Abstract: An single apparatus to drill and lift core specimens from an aggregate field includes a frame structure that can be deployed to a workface and is adapted to hydraulically deploy a rotating core drilling bit upon that workface to cut a core specimen from the substrate. The hydraulic deployment of the drill bit is self aligning and does not require complex alignment steps to ensure the maximum cutting efficiency and lifetime of the bit. The same apparatus that can be used to drive and deploy the drill bit can also be adapted to receive and lift the as-cut core specimen from the newly created hole in the substrate. Once lifted, the received specimen can be positioned out of the work area so that work within the newly created circular hole can progress.