Kirkland Lake in Timiskaming District, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

Diamond Drilling

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 3, 2022

1. Diamond Drilling Marker

Inscription.
Boyles Brothers BBU-1 Underground Diamond Drill
• Powered by compressed air – V twin motor
• Easily disassembled for transport to confined underground locations
• Capacity of 300 m using “A” size rods
• Often drilled multiple holes from one location – Fan drilling
• Capable of drilling up or down
• Used for exploration and infill drilling to precisely define ore bodies in preparation for mining

Boyles Brothers BBS-2 Junior Surface Diamond Drill
• Powered by water-cooled 3 cylinder Perkins diesel engine
• Easily disassembled for air transport to remote exploration sites
• Rated for 500 m using “A” size rods
• Replaced earlier, cumbersome steam-powered drill equipment
• One of the first and most widely used drills in mining exploration
• Integral winch used to pull rods and to propel drill across rough terrain

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Industry & Commerce.

Location. 48° 9.411′ N, 80° 1.256′ W. Marker is in Kirkland Lake, Ontario, in Timiskaming District. It can be reached from Toburn Road 0.2 kilometers west of Government Road East

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(Trans-Canada Highway) (Provincial Highway 66), on the left when traveling west. The marker is located in an interpretive kiosk on the Toburn Gold Mine Interpretive Park grounds. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Kirkland Lake ON P2N 3L8, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Northeastern Ontario

and specifically in Northern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Great North Woods,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Cage / La cage (within shouting distance of this marker); Kirkland Lake Region Gold Production (within shouting distance of this marker); Fire Hose Wagon / Wagon à tuyau d'incendie (within shouting distance of this marker); Sinking Bucket / Godet à fonçage (within shouting distance of this marker); Steam Powered Winch / Treuil à vapeur (within shouting

Boyles Brothers BBU-1 Underground Diamond Drill image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 3, 2022

2. Boyles Brothers BBU-1 Underground Diamond Drill

distance of this marker); Mine Hoist / Treuil de mine (within shouting distance of this marker); End Dump Cars / Waginnettes de déchargements (within shouting distance of this marker); Battery Tramming Motor / Moteurs à batteries pour transport sur rails (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kirkland Lake.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Toburn Gold Mine

Also see . . . Exploration Diamond Drilling (Wikipedia). Excerpt:

Exploration diamond drilling is used in the mining industry to probe the contents of known ore deposits and potential sites. By withdrawing a small diameter core of rock from the orebody, geologists can analyze the core by chemical assay and conduct petrologic, structural, and mineralogical studies of the rock. Before the invention of the portable diamond drill, most mineral prospecting was limited to finding outcrops at the surface and hand digging. Exploration diamond drilling differs from other geological drilling in that a solid core is extracted from depth, for examination on the surface. The key
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 3, 2022

3. Boyles Brothers BBS-2 Junior Surface Diamond Drill
technology of the diamond drill is the actual diamond bit itself. It is composed of industrial diamonds set into a soft metallic matrix. The diamonds are scattered throughout the matrix, and the action relies on the matrix to slowly wear during the drilling process, so as to expose more diamonds.

(Submitted on April 14, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Diamond Drilling Interpretive Kiosk image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 3, 2022

4. Diamond Drilling Interpretive Kiosk

Credits. This page was last revised on December 16, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 14, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 854 times since then and 119 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on April 14, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.