Prior to launch XQ rods were trialled at nearly 30 different exploration locations, with over 10,000 XQ rods tested. During the trials, a recent string of well-maintained XQ rods lasted nearly 20,000 metres of drilling, double the footage reached by RQ rods at the same site.

The key change over previous rods from Boart Longyear is the introduction of the patented XQ thread joints. Featuring innovative self-aligning, double-start threads, the XQ rod's joints engage smoothly virtually eliminate wedging or jamming. Doubling the thread also means double the contact area for a balanced load response which translates to no box bulging. The thread design also includes a -20-degree reverse flank angle for even more strength and load capacity.

To minimise thread wear, Boart Longyear adds hardening to the crest of the pin thread to maximum hardness and create a significant hardness difference between pin and box. The hardness difference is proven to minimise wear and preserves the toughness in the joint required to carry drilling loads. Currently, no other manufacturer combines heat-treated ends with pin case hardening.

Mike Garton, Boart Longyear Drilling Services division manager for coring in Canada, said: "The new XQ thread provides the smoothest making and breaking of any rod I have used in my 25-year career in drilling. The XQ rods align better and don't require back-turning the rods to start. This saves us time and not having the rods jamming means more metres drilled."

Shown to have double the thread life, up to 25 per cent more box life, and up to 60 per cent more strength than its predecessor, XQ drill rods increase the depth rating to 4,000 metres - a 33 per cent increase over RQ rods.