The increase resources occurred following the combination of drilling and geological assessment at Orion Downs in the latter half of 2012 and further interpretation of the 2011 exploration drilling outcomes from Rockwood.

The JORC resource for Endocoal’s Orion Downs tenement increased to 51.5Mt.

Endocoal sees an opportunity for a two-stage mine development at Orion Downs, with Meteor Downs South initially producing at a rate of 1.5 million tonnes per annum.

An underground mine deposit at Inderi will then follow.

Endocoal boosted the JORC resource at Rockwood to 337Mt, with an additional 24.8Mt inferred resource.

Endocoal is anticipating a drilling program at Rockwood to commence sometime during March.

The drilling program will focus on exploring further to the southeast of the tenement as well as to more closely drill in those areas likely to be prospective for the siting of a mine operation.

The company aims to release a further JORC resource upgrade at Rockwood in mid-2012.

Endocoal chief executive officer Tim Hedley said the JORC upgrades for the tenements were pleasing.

“The JORC resource upgrades confirm Endocoal’s positive expectations for the Orion Downs and Rockwood tenements,” Hedley said.

“We reconfirm our guidance that Rockwood has the potential to be a major deposit with its previously advised 400-900Mt exploration target.

“We look forward to further successful outcomes for Endocoal in the 2012 drilling season ahead.”