RC600

⛏️ RC600 600 m Crawler Reverse Circulation Drill Rig

The RC600 is a heavy-duty crawler reverse circulation drill rig designed for deeper mineral exploration, geological sampling, and deep water well construction. Compared with 400 m class RC equipment, it further improves maximum drilling depth, hole diameter, lifting force, rotary torque, and air compressor requirements. With a maximum drilling depth of 600 m and a hole diameter of 105–450 mm, it is suitable for medium-to-deep hole projects that require greater depth coverage and stronger drill string handling capacity.

🎯 600 m class RC positioning is more suitable for deep anomaly verification

In mineral exploration, after shallow anomalies are confirmed, subsequent work often needs to continue tracing mineralization, structures, and lithological changes at depth. The RC600 can handle deeper RC holes and obtain geological information at different depths through continuous cuttings return, making it suitable for orebody down-dip investigation, peripheral anomaly verification, mine expansion surveys, and deep geological control.

🔄 Reverse circulation inner tube sample return is the core process of this equipment

RC drilling usually uses dual-wall drill pipes. Compressed air travels down the outer channel of the drill pipe, drives the RC hammer and bit at the bottom of the hole, and then carries cuttings back to the surface through the inner channel. Compared with ordinary outer annulus discharge, the inner tube sample return path is more concentrated, which helps reduce contact between samples and different hole sections and improves the operability of depth-segmented sampling.

🧪 More suitable for quickly obtaining large quantities of cuttings samples

The RC600 mainly obtains cuttings samples rather than continuous complete cores. For projects that need to quickly establish a large number of drill hole control points, the RC method can return samples simultaneously during drilling, making it convenient for on-site geologists to record lithology, alteration, and mineralization changes at fixed footage intervals, and then send representative samples to the laboratory for assay.

🥇 Deep anomaly and peripheral mineralization investigation in gold mines

In gold mine projects, the RC600 can be used for mineralization verification below cover layers, structural zone tracing, orebody peripheral expansion, and deep anomaly investigation. The 600 m class drilling depth can cover a larger vertical range than conventional shallow-to-medium holes, especially for projects that already have some shallow mineralization information and need to continue rapid verification at depth.

🟠 Deep RC sampling in copper, iron, and lithium mines

In copper, iron, lithium, and other mineral surveys, deep cuttings samples can be used to determine lithological changes, alteration zoning, and mineralization trends. For large-area projects, RC drilling can first be used to quickly establish deep control, and then core holes can be arranged for key anomaly areas, improving overall exploration efficiency and drilling resource utilization.

📏 600 m drilling depth and 105–450 mm hole diameter range

The maximum drilling depth of 600 m and hole diameter of 105–450 mm enable the RC600 to handle not only mineral exploration holes but also large-diameter deep water wells and some mine dewatering projects. Actual drilling depth will be affected by hole diameter, drill pipe, air compressor, rock formation, hole deviation, and drilling tool wear, so 600 m should be regarded as a reference capability under typical configuration.

📐 45° / 90° working angles suitable for different targets

The equipment supports 45° and 90° working angles. 90° can be used for conventional vertical exploration and water well construction, while 45° is more suitable for inclined penetration of inclined orebodies, veins, and fault zones. For mineral exploration, a reasonable drilling angle is often more important than simply increasing hole depth, and should be determined according to orebody attitude and exploration design.

💪 29 T lifting force provides support for 600 m class drill string handling

The RC600 has a lifting force of 29 T. As hole depth increases, the self-weight of dual-wall RC drill pipes and hole wall friction increase significantly. Greater lifting capacity facilitates normal tripping, drill tool recovery, and some casing handling. If pulling resistance continues to be abnormal, priority should be given to hole cleaning and downhole condition assessment rather than directly using maximum lifting force to pull forcefully.

🔄 12000 / 6000 N·m dual-condition rotary torque

The rotary system has a maximum torque of 12000 / 6000 N·m, corresponding to maximum rotary speeds of 75 / 150 r/min. Low speed and high torque are suitable for large-diameter, hard rock, and high-load hole sections, while the high-speed gear is suitable for stable formations with lower resistance. RC drilling should simultaneously monitor rotation, impact, and sample return status to keep the three coordinated.

💨 1.6–6 MPa working air pressure suitable for medium-to-deep hole RC conditions

Recommended working air pressure is 1.6–6 MPa, with air consumption of 16–75 m³/min. 600 m class RC drilling not only needs to drive the downhole drilling tool but also must return cuttings to the surface over a long distance, so the pressure and displacement of the air compressor are both critical. As hole depth, hole diameter, altitude, and rock hardness increase, the required effective air volume usually also increases.

🧹 Continuity of sample return directly affects geological judgment

During RC sampling, continuous observation should be made of changes in sample return volume, particle size, color, and moisture. If there is a sudden decrease in sample, delayed sample return, or obvious cross-contamination, check the drill pipe seals, sample return channel, air compressor output, and whether there is air leakage in the hole. High-quality RC data depends on stable sample return, not just the penetration capacity of the drill rig itself.

🏷️ Sample numbering and depth recording must be synchronized

On site, samples should be collected at fixed footage intervals, and the drill hole number, sample number, start and end depths, and abnormal conditions should be recorded. For mineral samples sent to the laboratory for analysis, duplicate samples, standard samples, and blank samples should also be set according to the project quality control system. The drill rig is responsible for obtaining samples, but final data quality also depends on sampling management.

💎 Both RC and DTH can be used in hard rock conditions

Information shows that the RC600 supports RC drilling and conventional DTH hammer drilling. For relatively intact rock formations such as granite, limestone, and sandstone, the choice between RC and ordinary DTH can be made according to whether geological samples are needed. Hard rock construction should ensure DTH hammer lubrication, bit condition, and smooth bottom-hole cuttings discharge.

🌧️ Mud rotary can be switched to in loose overburden

Soil layers, sand layers, gravel layers, and other loose overburden may not be suitable for direct high-pressure RC drilling. The equipment supports mud rotary mode, which can first stabilize and complete the upper hole section, and then switch to RC or DTH process after entering stable rock, improving overall hole completion reliability.

🧱 Control penetration and air leakage in fractured zones and fissured formations

Fault fracture zones can easily cause hole wall collapse, air leakage, and abnormal sample return. After entering such hole sections, excessive penetration should be reduced, continuous hole cleaning should be maintained, and air pressure changes should be observed. In case of severe air leakage, foam, casing, or other treatment methods should be combined to avoid a significant drop in sample return capacity.

💧 Also suitable for deep water wells and mine groundwater development

In addition to mineral exploration, the RC600 can also be used for deep water well construction. Agricultural irrigation, mine water supply, industrial water, and groundwater surveys can choose ordinary DTH or mud drilling according to the formation. The focus of water well projects is hole wall, well diameter, aquifer, and well completion structure, which differs from the focus of mineral RC sampling projects.

🌊 Mine dewatering and engineering dewatering applications

The 600 m class drilling depth and relatively large hole diameter range also give the equipment some dewatering hole capability. Mine and engineering dewatering require the design of well locations, well spacing, hole diameter, and pump capacity according to hydrogeological conditions. The drill rig only handles hole completion construction and cannot replace a complete dewatering design.

⚡ 132 kW Cummins engine provides heavy-duty power reserve

The RC600 uses a 132 kW Cummins engine to provide power for rotation, feed, crawler travel, and auxiliary hydraulic systems. RC projects usually also require large air compressors and sampling systems, so fuel, equipment location, and maintenance space should be planned in advance on site to avoid interference between different equipment.

🚜 3.5 km/h crawler travel improves mine site relocation efficiency

The equipment travel speed is about 3.5 km/h, with a maximum climbing angle reference of 21°. The crawler chassis is suitable for gravel roads in mining areas, field exploration platforms, and general uneven ground. Since the overall weight is about 12.5 T, road bearing capacity, slope, and site stability should be confirmed before actual relocation.

🦵 1.7 m outrigger stroke suitable for leveling complex platforms

The outrigger stroke is 1.7 m, which can be used for equipment leveling and stabilization. When performing 45° inclined holes or high-torque drilling, the force direction on the equipment is more complex, so the outriggers, ground bearing, and overall levelness of the machine directly affect hole direction control and construction safety.

🧵 2.5 T winch lifting force facilitates handling of drilling tools and accessories

The winch lifting force is 2.5 T, which can be used for handling RC hammers, drill pipes, casing tools, and other on-site accessories. In deep hole projects, drilling tools are heavier, and proper use of the winch can reduce manual labor intensity, but rated load must be controlled, and personnel must stay away from suspended objects and the direction of wire rope force.

📦 12.5 T overall machine requires complete transportation and site planning

The overall weight is about 12.5 T, and the overall dimensions are about 7 × 2.1 × 2.9 m. Mineral RC projects also require air compressors, sample return hoses, sampling devices, and sample areas, so the drilling platform size should be planned in advance to ensure sufficient safety distance and operation passages between equipment.

🏜️ Arid and remote mining areas better reflect the advantages of pneumatic drilling

RC and DTH drilling mainly rely on compressed air for impact, cuttings discharge, and sample return. In suitable rock formations, they have low dependence on large amounts of mud and water, making them more suitable for mining areas, deserts, and remote areas with insufficient water sources. If the upper loose layer is thick, mud or casing assistance may still be required.

⚠️ RC construction and sample management precautions

Before daily work starts, check dual-wall drill pipe seals, high-pressure air hoses, rotary head, engine, hydraulic system, and sample return channel; during construction, continuously observe sample return continuity and depth correspondence; after completion, clean the inner tube of the drill pipe and sample return pipeline to avoid residual cuttings contaminating the next drill hole or next sampling interval.

Due to differences in actual geological conditions, downhole tools, drilling angles, and operating methods, the final drilling efficiency, drilling depth, sample recovery, and well completion effect should be based on on-site conditions.

📊 Main Technical Parameters