Geotechnical focus: Core drilling and sampling standards are about controlling damage, not just drilling depth: correct core barrel and bit selection (HQ/NQ/T2), low-disturbance drilling parameters, full core recovery, proper orientation, and disciplined handling and boxing. Poor practice shows up immediately as low recovery, broken core, and unreliable RQD. Mineral exploration focus: In mineral exploration, core drilling standards aim to preserve geology and structure: appropriate barrel size, stable drilling parameters, accurate core orientation, and strict core handling and logging. Recovery quality directly affects structural interpretation, grade control, and confidence in resource models.