Three seams have been identified as having hard coking coal characteristics and there are five seams with thickness ranging between 2.57m and 5.0m, according to Pacific American Coal’s exploratory drilling.

The raw block modelling data indicates the potential resource of an initial small scale open cut operation.

This opportunity would allow for early cash flow that would facilitate the pre-development of a larger scale underground operation.

The underground operation would target the high quality coking coal seams.

The estimated open cut resources with a strip ratio of less than 5bcm to 1 tonne of coal is equivalent to 13.5Mt.

These early open cut workings would provide geotechnical stability above the underground portals in addition to offering a level footprint that would support locating the required mine site infrastructure, according to the company.