Boorkolommen

Boorkolommen are cylindrical samples of earth obtained by coring with a drill and preserved for laboratory analysis. They provide a continuous, in situ record of subsurface conditions at a given location, maintaining the vertical arrangement of layers and textures that can be lost in other drilling products.

Collection and handling typically involve a hollow core barrel that captures a cylindrical segment of material in protective liners as drilling progresses. The retrieved core is divided into labeled sections corresponding to depth intervals and stored for transport to a laboratory or field station. Each core is logged on site or in a lab for lithology, color, grain size, sedimentary structures, porosity, moisture content, and any inclusions such as fossils or minerals.

Analytical work on boorkolommen spans visual examination and laboratory techniques. Petrographic analysis and mineralogical methods (such as X-ray diffraction) identify mineral content and texture. Geochemical assays, dating techniques (for example radiometric methods), and paleomagnetic studies can provide age constraints and environmental information. Core samples may also be subjected to environmental testing or biostratigraphic analyses to reconstruct past climates, hydrology, and ecological conditions.

Applications of boorkolommen are broad. In civil engineering, they inform ground conditions for foundations and tunneling. In resource exploration, cores help characterize ore zones and reservoir properties. In environmental science, they establish baseline conditions and trace contaminant histories. In archaeology and palaeoenvironment research, cores reveal occupation layers and past landscapes.

Limitations include variable core recovery, potential core damage or deformation, and representativeness of a small section relative to larger subsurface conditions. Proper documentation, handling, and integration with borehole logs and geophysical data are essential for reliable interpretation.