Deviation of drill holes from the intended angle and direction have nothing to do with the condition of the drill equipment or the drill operator. Once the drill bit is the ground spinning, mother nature is in control. There is no way of controlling the angle or direction of the hole once the drill has been set-up and positioned, and the longer the hole, the more likely the hole will wander. The angle of the rock, the density of the rock, the condition of the rock, the spinning action of the bit, etc., are all factors that influence the direction the hole. Drill holes deviate all the time - this part of drilling.

After every drill hole is stopped, they send down a small glass tube filled with an acid to the bottom of the hole. This left in position for long enough for the acid to etch the glass, thereby revealing the true angle of the hole where it ended. The geologists will then calculate how much the hole deviated from its intended course and will interpret the results of that hole accordingly.  Sometimes a hole will be re-drilled with the drill set-up/postioned slighty drifferently to try and get the hole to end roughly where they want it. For example, they may adjust the initial angle of the mast to compensate for the expected deviation based on the results of the first hole.

You have to remember that the drill bit is attached to what are basically lengths of 10ft steel pipe (I am not sure what size rod they are using, so I do not know the diameter, but it probably is  be close to 3"). Steel pipe is flexible and if you have 100 of them screwed together end to end, as you would with a 300m hole, you could probably make a circle with them  (just by how much they flex without actually becoming bent). I have actually heard of a case with a very long hole where the hole actually wandered back to surface, and when the drillers lost water pressure and could not understand why there was no longer any pressure/resistance against the drill bit until they eventually found/saw the drill bit and rods sticking out of the ground once they added a couple of lengths of rods at the drill. The initial angle was probably set at around -45 degrees, but I do not know for sure...

The issue with the coordinates being mixed-up is easlily attributable to mistakes in calculating hole postion using topgraphical and geopysical maps with different scales or types of coodrinates (UTM versus the normal degree scale), in relation to their local line grid. An unfortunate error, yes, but certainly not intentional or due to gross incompetence.  

 I think some of your comments and concerns, although not malicious in intent, do reflect a lack of understanding and appreciation of the methods, quirks, and complexities exploration diamond drilling, and I would suggest  that perhaps you just accept the simpler explanation based on the information contained in the news releases, instead of engaging in speculation of conspiracies or gross incompetence

Regards,

B.