The Canadian company has retained Innovative Reclamation Technologies and Engineering, owned and operated by Timothy Sloan, to perform and direct Jellico’s exploration and reserve analysis.

“By employing the services of Mr Sloan's organization, Thelon will dramatically speed up the exploration and development process as well as reduce the costs of the project,” the company said.

Alongside the ongoing exploration at the 6000-acre Jellico project in Campbell and Claiborne counties, IRTEC is compiling known data and continuing the permitting and mine plan. It will subsequently prepare the National Instrument 43-101 report for the project.

Thelon received Toronto Stock Exchange approval for its May 18 letter of agreement to purchase the Tennessee project late last month.

Jellico encompasses a minimum of 13 million tons of high-quality thermal and metallurgical coal, according to a 2009 report by AR Leamon. As that report was not compliant with NI 43-101 standards, Thelon said it would confirm and expand the reserve and file a compliant report.

“Coal-quality analysis conducted from coreholes and test pits on the property between 1992 and 2007 have shown favorable sulfur, ash and Btu values consistent with high-quality metallurgical coals being produced in the area,” Thelon said earlier this year.

The Jellico project has well-established power, logistics and transportation in the area, including mine access roads and a railroad that runs parallel to state highway 90.

Thelon Capital is also working on uranium projects in Canada, Nevada and Utah, as well as a diamond project in Canada’s Northwest Territories.

For more on the Thelon Jellico project, check out the August 2010 issue of Coal USA Magazine.