Drillcon AB: Precision Underground Drilling Partner at Somincor (Neves-Corvo
Drillcon AB is a Swedish drilling specialist renowned for delivering complex underground exploration and production drilling services in challenging geological environments. At Somincor’s Neves-Corvo mine—now operating as Boliden Somincor—Drillcon has played a critical role in defining and expanding deep copper and zinc resources, helping extend the life and strategic value of one of Europe’s richest polymetallic operations.
Role at Somincor (Neves-Corvo)
Drillcon’s engagement at Somincor centers on high-precision underground core drilling and targeted exploration campaigns in deep orebodies such as the Lombador and Semblana zones. Their work has contributed to multiple key outcomes:
-
Resource Definition at Depth: Drillcon’s drilling programs have helped identify and delineate high-grade copper intersections at depths exceeding 1,200 meters, essential for long-term mine planning and reserve conversion.
-
Exploration in Complex Geology: Operating in a flat, deep, and structurally intricate pyritic lens system, Drillcon brought expertise in directional and core drilling to reach and sample remote mineralized zones that traditional approaches might miss.
-
Accelerating Expansion: By delivering reliable geological data quickly and safely, Drillcon enabled Somincor to prioritize development areas and de-risk near-mine exploration, supporting the broader expansion and integration initiatives underway.
Technical Capabilities & Differentiators
Drillcon’s value proposition at Somincor includes:
-
Advanced Core Drilling Technology: Use of industry-leading rigs and tooling to retrieve intact core samples from extreme depths with minimal deviation, providing high-fidelity geological information.
-
Directional and Precision Targeting: Expertise in guiding drill trajectories through complex structures, crucial for intersecting narrow, high-grade lenses of copper and zinc.
-
Integrated Logging & Data Quality Control: Real-time core handling, logging, and QA/QC processes ensuring data integrity feeds directly into resource modeling.
-
Commitment to Safety and Low Footprint Operations: Drillcon operates with rigorous safety protocols compatible with Somincor’s high ESG standards, minimizing environmental disturbance during underground programs.
Impact & Value Delivered
Drillcon’s drilling campaigns have directly contributed to extending Neves-Corvo’s mine life by enabling the discovery and conversion of deep mineral resources. The precision and speed of their work support strategic decision-making, allowing the mine to focus capital on the most promising zones and integrate new findings into the expansion roadmap. Their drilling data underpins reserve estimates, supports feasibility studies, and informs infrastructure placement in deep underground development.
Why Drillcon Matters to Media and Executive Audiences
For infrastructure investors, mining executives, and resource strategists, Drillcon exemplifies the type of specialist partner that turns geological potential into validated assets. Their collaboration with Somincor highlights how technical drilling excellence—combined with operational reliability—serves as a multiplier in asset valuation, risk reduction, and sustainable resource development.
Drillcon AB, Somincor drilling partner, Neves-Corvo exploration drilling, deep copper drilling Portugal, underground core drilling Europe, Boliden Somincor resource expansion, high-grade copper zinc exploration, precision mineral exploration, sustainable mining drilling services.
Centro de Negócios de Aljustrel,
Rua de Olivença, Nº57, 1º 2.6,
7600-077 Aljustrel
Portugal
pedroherrera@drillcon.es
www.drillcon.pt
