Bluff Project
|
Location: |
Directly south of Bluff, Central Queensland |
|
Basin: |
Bowen Basin |
|
Exploration Area: |
44km2 |
|
EPC Status: |
Granted |
|
Target Coal Type: |
PCI coal |
|
Target Stratigraphy: |
Rangal Coal Formation |
Bluff (EPC2121) is located approximately 20 km east of Blackwater in Central Queensland immediately adjacent to the Gladstone railway line, and is approximately 260 km from the port of Gladstone. Several historical mines (e.g. Excel and Windsor) are located to the immediate north of Bluff.
Drilling at Bluff commenced in March 2012 with an initial seven-hole scout program targeting the Rangal Coal Measures. Significant coal was intersected in the north east area of the tenement and a follow up program was undertaken to better define boundaries and size of the coal target.
Table 1 shows the four main seams present at Bluff. These seams typically aggregate to more than 10m in total thickness. The shallowest intersections are at 32m depth.
Table 1
|
Seam
|
Seam Thickness (m) Range Typical |
|
|
Aries |
1 – 4 |
2 |
|
Pollux |
2 – 8 |
4 |
|
Orion |
2 – 4 |
2.5 |
|
Pisces |
2 – 2.5 |
2 |
Given the number of shallow intersections and the indicative low strip ratio identified by these holes, an open cut development has been proposed. Subject to successful resource delineation and development studies, it is envisaged a small open cut contract operation could be developed at Bluff within a relatively short time period.
Three core holes have been completed for coal quality assessment. Preliminary results suggest that coal from Bluff will produce an attractive PCI product with low ash. Table 2 lists the coal quality results from hole BLU006C, a thick intersection of the Pollux seam. The high fixed carbon content (85% dry ash free), high HGI, low volatile and favourable ash chemistry indicates a significant portion of this coal could be sold with minimal washing required.
Table 2
|
Parameters |
Value |
|
Ash (%) |
10.0 |
|
Moisture (%) |
1.4 |
|
Volatile (% adb) |
13.5 |
|
Fixed Carbon (%) |
75 |
|
CSN |
1.0 |
|
Calorific Value (Kcal/kg) |
7,500 |
|
Total Sulfur (%) |
0.7 |
Successful exploration results to date have provided impetus for the Company to consider an accelerated development program for Bluff. The potential availability of local infrastructure suggests that a mine could be developed with relatively low capital expenditure and within a short timeframe. Studies and tenure upgrade processes have been initiated.
visit the Bluff Coal website for further information on this project.
