Fixed cutter drill bit having core receptacle with concave core cutter

A drill bit, comprising:

• a shank having a threaded coupling formed at an upper end thereof;
• a bit body mounted to a lower end of the shank and having a plenum;
• a gage section forming an outer portion of the drill bit;
• and
• a cutting face forming a lower end of the drill bit and comprising:
• a core receptacle formed at a center of the cutting face, operable to receive a core of earth, and comprising:
• a concave core cutter mounted to a bottom of the bit body and operable to destroy the core;
• and
• a core port extending from the plenum through the bottom of the bit body and operable to discharge drilling fluid onto the core and core cutter;
• a plurality of blades protruding from the bottom of the bit body and extending from a periphery of the core receptacle to the gage section;
• and
• a plurality of leading cutters mounted along each blade,
• wherein:
• the core cutter is mounted in a pocket formed in the bottom of the bit body, and
• an edge of the pocket intersects the center of the cutting face.