Overview
The South Carolina Core Repository houses drill core and cuttings collected throughout South Carolina. The purpose of the collection is to compliment mineral exploration across the state and to promote the responsible use of South Carolinas natural resources. The collection acts as a rock "library”, and is available for individual researchers and industry professionals to use for geologic study.
Scroll through our photo gallery to see pictures of drilling operations, the repository expansion, and more.
Photo GalleryThe Repository
The repository is 4,000 square feet and is used for both sample storage and core examination. The collection consists primarily of rock core drilled during mineral exploration on private and federal mineral leases from over 1,200 drill holes across the state. Also included in the collection are Coastal Plain drill cores and a small number of rock cuttings, chips, and samples from the Piedmont and Blue Ridge provinces. Most samples are classified as non-confidential and are open-filed for viewing.
The facility provides table space and examination equipment, which includes a binocular microscope and trim saws. The user is responsible for laying out the core and returning it to the pallet when finished. Staff provides retrieval, replacement, and slabbing of material.
See photos of the repo expansion.
Use of the Collection
The facility is open Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 4:00 pm EST. It is requested that the user call Robby Morrow at (803) 896-1214 in advance. Advanced notice is necessary because table space is limited. It also insures the availability of the requested core and samples. Currently, there are no user fees.
Visitors are to use extreme care when handling drill core so that the sequence of the core boxes is not disturbed. In order to maintain an accurate record of the core for future use, every effort is to be made to replace the core exactly as it was found in the core box.
Depending on the condition of the core and with prior approval from the State Geologist, some limited sampling of materials is allowed. No sampling of core will be allowed where 1/4 or less of the full core diameter exists. No more sample than is reasonably needed is to be removed. Restricted sampling is necessary to preserve the core as much as possible. Theft of core will be considered a criminal offense and punishable pursuant to the laws of South Carolina. After testing, any remaining sample pieces, cuttings, or pulps should be returned to the Survey with proper labeling.
The user must complete a form listing all samples removed. Also, any core sample removed from the box must be replaced with a marker showing the date and footage of core removed. Thin sections or other data should be returned to the South Carolina Geological Survey upon completion of the study or upon request. The Survey should receive a copy of all research results, data, reports, publications, interpretations, assays, and logs from the examination of the core. This information will become part of the public record. A sample withdraw form can be found here.
Many core holes have lithologic descriptions (logs) that have been placed on open file. However, there may be some core with available logs that are confidential. It may be possible to view the confidential core and obtain copies of the logs by contacting the company that provided the core and logs. It is the responsibility of the user to obtain written permission to view the core and have the lithologic logs released. Verification may be required by the Survey.
University students who remove samples for use in reports, research or theses must fill out the previously described form. Students and their major professors must take responsibility to return sampled materials. The Survey should receive a copy of all research results.