A core tube handling device can be used with exploratory drilling rigs. The device can include a slew arm mounted on the rig's mast and a pivot arm mounted on the slew arm. When the slew arm is adjacent to the mast, clamping devices on the pivot arm can grasp and hold a core tube from the drill string. The slew arm can pivot away from the mast and align the pivot arm with a tray that receives and holds the tubes. The pivot arm can pivot to a position proximate the tray and release the tube. The tray can be rotatable and translatable to facilitate transfer of the tube from the pivot arm to the tray.