by Alex Grant, VP Marketing OreBody Solutions at Epiroc
Introduction
Traditional core logging has long been a cornerstone of geotechnical and mineral exploration. Yet, for decades, it has relied on manual measurements, repetitive handling, and inconsistent photography, making it labor-intensive, time-consuming, and prone to human error. In large-scale drilling programs spanning thousands of meters of core, these inefficiencies can amplify, resulting in reduced accuracy, slower decision-making, and higher operational costs.
Beyond the logging process itself, storing physical core presents its own challenges. Coresheds are expensive to build and maintain and the cost of long-term storage continues to rise. Over time, core can also degrade, potentially compromising valuable geological information. Despite these drawbacks, many operations continue to rely heavily on physical storage as their primary record.
At the same time, the need for high-quality, uniform core imagery and geotechnical data has grown. Modern exploration increasingly relies on machine learning, digital modeling, and advanced geotechnical analysis, all of which require reliable, detailed, and consistent datasets. Recognizing these challenges, Epiroc has introduced CorePhoto, an innovative, field-ready core photography and 3D laser profiling system designed to transform how exploration and geotechnical teams capture, analyze, and manage core data. By creating a permanent, high-resolution digital record of core, CorePhoto enables companies to reduce reliance on physical coresheds, optimize storage costs, and preserve critical data for the long term, helping them maximize the value of their drilling investments.
Addressing the challenges of traditional logging
Manual logging methods pose several operational challenges. Poorly lit or inconsistent photography, repetitive tray handling, and human fatigue can all degrade data quality over time. Geologists often spend more time capturing measurements than interpreting them, slowing down exploration timelines.
CorePhoto eliminates these barriers. By combining high-resolution imaging, 3D laser profiling, AI-assisted analysis, automated workflows, and pXRF measurement that will be integrated within a few months, it produces accurate, uniform core datasets while reducing the physical and cognitive load on logging teams.
Rugged design for extreme conditions
Designed for the realities of mineral exploration, CorePhoto is built to endure harsh field conditions. Its titanium-reinforced housing, dust- and water-resistant construction, and temperature tolerance from -50°C to 55°C (-58°F to 122°F) ensure reliable performance in environments ranging from arctic sites to desert exploration zones.
Despite its ruggedness, the unit remains highly portable. Compact dimensions and a weight under 400 kg (900 lb) allow transport via small utility vehicles, tray-back 4WDs, or even helicopters. Adjustable retractable legs provide ergonomic working heights, while a 15.6-inch multi-touch interface simplifies operation. Automatic self-calibration guarantees high-precision capture of geological and geotechnical features, even for teams with minimal training.
High-throughput scanning, imaging, and pXRF analysis
CorePhoto’s scanning system is designed to meet the demands of large-scale drilling programs. The current unit (RGB and 3D profiler sensors only) can process 1000 to 1800 m (3281 to 5906 ft) of core per 24 hours, balancing speed with the required level of detail. Lower-speed scans maximize 3D reconstruction quality and RGB fidelity, while higher-speed scans prioritize throughput without compromising reliability.
At the heart of CorePhoto is a 25-micron RGB line-scan camera, a 50-micron 3D laser profiler, and the integrated pXRF sensors, capturing color imagery, surface geometry, and elemental composition along the entire core length. The line-scan architecture eliminates parallax errors, shadowing, and pixel distortion (typically present in traditional frame or DSLR cameras) ensuring consistent and accurate data in both wet and dry cores. Capturing the core material section by section, instead of photographing the entire core tray at once, enhances image resolution. This approach enables users to zoom in closely, essentially functioning like a hand lens, while also establishing a consistent standard of image quality for future machine-learning workflows. CorePhoto accommodates all standard tray types, including SQ, PQ, HQ, NQ, RC chip trays, and hand samples. Its pass-through workflow ensures safe and efficient operations.
Field independence is a priority. CorePhoto can be used both online and offline, depending on site connectivity, ensuring uninterrupted operation in even the most remote locations. Data is stored locally on an encrypted hard drive, with optional expanded storage for longer campaigns. At the same time, data can be viewed directly on the screen as scanning occurs, enabling immediate validation and faster decision-making in the field. When connectivity is available, datasets can be uploaded to CoreShed, Epiroc’s secure cloud-based platform, giving geoscientists the ability to view, analyze, and collaborate remotely from anywhere in the world.
Accuracy, consistency, speed, and geochemistry
Uniform lighting, artifact-free imaging, automation, and the pXRF integration allow CorePhoto to deliver unbiased geological and geochemical data with exceptional precision. Its high-resolution sensors far exceed typical competitor resolutions, reducing the need for re-logging and freeing geologists to focus on interpretation.
By matching scanning throughput to drilling rates, CorePhoto helps teams avoid costly delays and maximize the return on their drilling programs. The combination of RGB imaging and 3D profiling with the forthcoming pXRF measurement enables rapid detection of structural and geochemical features, supporting early identification of zones of interest and enabling real-time adjustments to drilling programs. This efficiency extends downstream, optimizing processes such as assay sample pre-selection and near real-time hole termination or re-entry.
Safety and ergonomics
Traditional logging exposes teams to physical strain from repetitive lifting and repositioning of core trays. CorePhoto’s compact, mobile design minimizes manual handling, reducing fatigue and risk of injury. Adjustable legs, pass-through workflows, and automated scanning create a safer, more efficient working environment, allowing personnel to focus on geological interpretation rather than physical labor.
Digital twins and regulatory compliance
CorePhoto produces high-resolution digital twins of every core. These permanent records maintain core integrity, support verification of historical logs and assays, and provide verifiable evidence for JORC reporting, helping ensure compliance and enhancing QA/QC processes.
Digital twins are durable and accessible long after physical cores have been sampled or disposed of, reducing storage requirements and warehouse costs while providing long-term traceability and confidence in geological data.
AI integration and expert interpretation
The system leverages built-in AI to streamline the scanning and QA/QC process, delivering consistent, high-quality imagery and reliable datasets in real-time. This helps automatically detect inconsistencies, standardize outputs, and accelerate data readiness. It also generates datasets that can be used for further AI-driven analysis and machine learning. Integration with CoreShed enables seamless network-based transfer and global collaboration among exploration teams.
While AI enhances and accelerates data capture and validation, expert interpretation remains essential. Geologists apply their field experience and technical expertise to validate results and extract meaningful insights, ensuring accurate and reliable outcomes for real-world applications.
Early adoption and innovation
Early adopters of CorePhoto have praised its ease of use, data quality, and efficiency. Feedback from a 2025 CorePhoto open day highlighted faster logging, reduced manual handling, and more consistent datasets across multiple projects.
The addition of pXRF measurement has been noted as a game-changer by customers as it will enable immediate elemental analysis without leaving the drill site. Epiroc continues to innovate, focusing on further improvements in scanning performance, operational efficiency, and data quality. CorePhoto remains at the forefront of core digitization, helping exploration teams maximize value, reduce risk, and improve decision-making.
Conclusion
By combining rugged, field-ready design, high-throughput scanning, pXRF geochemical analysis, AI-assisted interpretation, digital twins, and secure cloud collaboration, CorePhoto is redefining how geoscientists capture and interpret core data. It improves accuracy, consistency, speed, safety, and geochemical insight, reduces costs, and enables global collaboration—all while allowing geologists to focus on what matters most: interpreting results, driving exploration success, and maximizing the value of every meter drilled.
Visit the website to learn more about how CorePhoto can transform the way you capture, analyze, and manage core data.
