Boart Longyear wireline core retrieval system, an innovation that revolutionized the diamond drilling industry by increasing productivity on the worksite and making tripping core from the bottom of the hole safer for the drilling assistant. Later named the Q Wireline System, the new core retrieval method introduced a level of productivity never before seen in the exploration drilling industry. In 1964 Longyear sold 25 percent of its family-owned stock to FACTS, a Luxembourg-based holding company owned jointly by Boart International and Christensen Diamond Products Company. Three years later FACTS exercised its option to purchase another 25 percent of Longyear's family stock. The
Boart Longyear Richard O'Brien, former CEO of Newmont Mining Corporation, joined Boart Longyear as CEO on April 1, 2013. To better focus on its core business and align with its long-term strategy, Boart Longyear announced the sale of its Environmental and Infrastructure drilling services operations to Cascade Drilling, L.P. of Woodinville, Washington on July 15, 2013. In August 2013, Boart Longyear founder, Edmund J. Longyear, was nominated for inclusion in the International Mining Hall of Fame. Longyear was nominated for his contributions to the U.S. iron ore mining and steel industries in the early part of the 20th century. He founded E.J.