Imerys, Aggeria Bentonite Exploration, Milos, Greece

Geotest announces the arrival and start-up of its ninth Epiroc Christensen CS140 surface diamond drilling rig, contributing to Imerys’ bentonite exploration drilling programme at the Aggeria mine on Milos Island, in the Central Aegean, Greece. Milos hosts Europe’s largest calcium bentonite resource, and together with the island’s other deposits accounts for a significant share of Greece’s bentonite output — Greece alone exports close to one million tonnes of bentonite per year, used across construction, drilling fluids, foundry and cosmetic applications.

Project Challenge

Bentonite is predominantly composed of montmorillonite, a smectite clay that swells considerably on contact with water, making hole stability and fluid management particularly demanding.

• Approximately 2,000 metres of inclined diamond drilling, to a maximum depth of around 130 metres
• Fluid and hole-stability management in a highly water-reactive clay formation

• Mobilising a new rig to an island site in the Central Aegean
• Drawing on experienced crews and reliable equipment to meet the technical challenge

RESULTS

Ongoing — supporting Imerys’ bentonite exploration programme at Aggeria, Milos.