Tooling and equipment manufacturer Boart Longyear has announced its new Longyear line of diamond drilling bits with the release of the first in the series, the Green Bit.

In a release, the company calls the new Longyear Diamond Bit Color Series “innovative and versatile.” It says the new bits are designed and engineered to drill faster, last longer and out-perform existing bit technology.

“The two biggest questions for any bit are, how fast does it cut and how long does it last?” says Chris Lambert, senior product manager. “The new Longyear Green Bit simply cuts faster and lasts longer. The new line of color coding is meant to make it easier to select and use bits for every type of ground condition and for every driller experience level.”

The company says it has developed metallurgy that creates a chemical bond between diamond and matrix, a bond stronger than the diamond itself. It says increased diamond projection and improved face flushing create a bit with more versatility, higher penetration rates and longer life. The Longyear bits are designed with a new, open geometry in 16 millimeter crown heights. Tapered intermediate waterways improve flushing and prevent accumulation of debris.

The unique Razorcut protrusions on the face of the bit contain diamonds that enable the bit to begin cutting right out of the box — even in the softest ground. The arrangement of these protrusions also improves the tracking and balance in the hole when drilling begins.

The Green Bit is currently available in Australia for both the underground and surface coring segments. After successful field testing, other bits in the series will be available first in Australia, then later in other parts of the world.

Boart Longyear, based in Salt Lake City, offers drilling services, equipment and performance tooling for the mining industry. The company has more than 9,000 employees worldwide, manufactures equipment in six global factories, and sells to customers in more than 100 countries. For more information, visit www.boartlongyear.com.