The Sydney-based junior has appointed engineers Connell Hatch to conduct the scoping study into an open-cut operation at the project, along with mineral constants Geos Mining to manage resource upgrades and extensions.

The study into the deposit, which has a resource base of 280Mt, will outline the costs of a coal preparation plant and infrastructure, and will also include a rail study.

The study will also look at costs on an order of magnitude from a base case scenario of 3Mt per annum.

Earlier this month Coalworks began hydrological testwork at the project – historical mining in the area was shut down due to water problems - and the company is also going ahead with further drilling to prove up the resource for a future bankable feasibility study.

The company raised $A25 million in June to fund exploration and development work at Oaklands and its other projects in Queensland and New South Wales.