The most important task of exploratory core drilling is to ensure high yield and quality of core - source material for geological and engineering-geological sampling. Analysis of production data of a number of organizations engaged in drilling in permafrost rocks shows that when drilling with flushing the core yield is 60-70% for bedrock with moisture content of 2 - 5% and 20-30% in rocks with moisture content of 15% and more. In production conditions very often in order to increase the core yield one switches to “dry” drilling. However, the core quality deteriorates sharply. Partial or complete thawing of the core takes place with violation of its structural characteristicsю