Located at Lithgow and Gulgong in New South Wales the labs work in conjunction with local collieries to provide rapid turnaround times.

“Our primary coal testing regime includes calorific value, sulphur and iron content, moisture content, sizing and washability,” the company said.

“Our coal exploration services include supervision of limit of oxidisation drilling by one of our geologists, collection and return to the laboratory of exploration samples.

“Our coal exploration laboratory testing includes drop shatter, washability and float/sink testing.”

Macquarie Geotechnical operates four offices in the Central West of NSW and employs more than 40 geotechnical staff comprising geotechnical engineers, engineering geologists, chemists, environmental scientists, coal technicians, concrete technicians and geotechnical technicians.

It claims to be the largest geotechnical company west of Sydney and regularly works on projects throughout western NSW, Blue Mountains and Sydney.

In 2011 it had geotechnical staff working on projects in the Pilbara region of Western Australia and McArthur River mine in the Northern Territory as well as numerous mining and infrastructure projects throughout NSW.