A core shed (also known as a core yard or core farm) is a dedicated, purpose-built facility at a mining project or exploration site where drill core samples are stored, managed, logged, photographed, sampled, and archived. In bauxite, gold, iron ore, and diamond mining, the core shed is one of the most important data management infrastructure components at any exploration or operating mine site, as it houses the primary physical evidence of the subsurface geology from which all resource estimates, geological models, and mine plans are derived. A well-designed core shed provides sheltered, organised storage for large volumes of core trays arranged in borehole order and depth sequence, making it easy for geologists and visiting auditors to locate and review specific intervals. The core shed typically includes work benches or logging tables at a height comfortable for standing geologists, adequate lighting for accurate lithological description and colour identification, a core cutting area equipped with diamond-bladed core saws and water suppression for dust control, a core photography station with standardised lighting and a photographic backdrop, and a sample dispatch area where labelled sample bags are prepared for dispatch to the assay laboratory. In large mining companies, core sheds may house tens of thousands of metres of core from multiple boreholes spanning decades of exploration activity. Proper chain-of-custody procedures must be followed in the core shed to ensure sample security and integrity, particularly in gold and diamond mining where theft risk is a concern. Core shed management is a critical component of quality assurance and quality control (QAQC) programs, and the facility must be maintained in a manner that protects core from deterioration, contamination, or loss. In compliance with JORC, NI 43-101, and SAMREC reporting standards, the security and accessibility of drill core archives must be documented and confirmed by a Competent Person reviewing a resource estimate.
