An underground drilling rig is a type of equipment used in mining and construction for creating holes or boreholes in the ground. These rigs are specifically designed to operate within confined spaces, such as tunnels and mineshafts, where traditional surface drilling equipment cannot be used due to space limitations.

Types of underground drilling rigs

Jumbo Drills: These are large rigs used for creating multiple blast holes at once in hard rock mining operations. They typically have several drill arms and can be highly automated.

Longhole Drills: Used for long hole drilling, which is a method of drilling deep holes (often up to 60 meters) for blasting. These drills are often equipped with a telescopic feed mechanism.

Raiseboring Rigs: These are used for creating vertical or inclined holes between levels in a mine. They are capable of drilling larger diameter holes compared to other types of drilling rigs.

Blasthole Drills: Similar to jumbo drills but smaller and more maneuverable, these are used for drilling holes that will be filled with explosives for blasting.

Down-the-Hole (DTH) Drills: These use a hammer mechanism located at the bottom of the drill string, which provides high efficiency in drilling through hard materials.

Core Drills: Used for obtaining cylindrical samples (cores) of rock for analysis. These are often used in exploration drilling to determine the mineral content and structure of the subsurface.

The choice of drilling rig depends on the specific application, the type of material being drilled, and the size and depth of the required borehole. Modern underground drilling rigs often incorporate advanced technologies like GPS guidance systems, automation, and remote control capabilities to improve safety and efficiency.