Drilling has been accepted as a major exploration tool. However its use in mine planning and development has been overlooked._x000D_
This need for drillhole data was highlighted during the redevelopment boom of the central Victorian gold mines. During the 1980's numerous old mines were evaluated and successfully drilled to yield mineable parcels of quartz reefs close to existing workings._x000D_
Invariably the initial decision was always to attempt reopening and rehabilitating existing access._x000D_
The four case studies described have proceeded sufficiently to show that major cost savings would have been made if underground drilling had been used as the main tool in mine planning._x000D_
Savings not only in expenditure, but in the time required to make key decisions. In two cases the mines would have experienced far earlier expansions in production. In one case the mine would be currently producing rather than awaiting further finance. In the fourth example, the decision to case development would have been much earlier providing capital to other projects.