Drilling, the Mineral Exploration Bottleneck

According to exploration standards, the reserves of any mineral must be determined through drilling, even in the case of a homogenous bed of limestone.
Mineral drilling is a crucial aspect of mineral exploration. In Iran, this process is both time-consuming and costly compared to other countries, primarily because most of the equipment and drilling machinery are imported. However, it appears that factors such as the lack of sufficient experience among drilling associates and experts contribute to the time wasted during drilling. Additionally, Inefficient equipment supply chain management plays a significant role in escalating drilling costs. As a result, the speed, quality, and efficiency of drilling in Iran are not up to par.
Statistics reveal that the total length of mineral exploration drilling in Iran is approximately 150,000 meters per year. When compared with the annual length of drilling in leading countries like Canada and Australia, which typically spans between 4 to 7 million meters, the corresponding figure for Iran appears relatively modest, especially when considering the differing conditions.

Bahman Rashidi – Senior Expert in Economic Geology

Source: Industry, Mining and Trade newspaper