Cockatoo Coal kicks off drilling at Hume and Bylong coal projects in NSW

Cockatoo Coal (ASX: COK) has commenced exploration drilling comprising open and cored drill holes at the Hume and Bylong projects, aiming to validate historical drilling and confirm coking coal quality characteristics of the Wongawilli Seam.

The extent and quality of the underlying Tongarra Seam is also being investigated at the Hume project located in the southern Sydney Basin, New South Wales.

One multipurpose drill rig is operational on the Hume project. A total of 7 holes for 742 metres have been drilled,   where cumulative down hole coal intercepts of up to 9.0 metres with an average thickness of 5.4 metres have been received.

The Hume project was previously reported as a 115 million tonne (Mt) Indicated export grade metallurgical/thermal coal resource and is managed and 30% owned by Cockatoo Coal and 70% owned by POSCO Australia Pty Limited.

The company is also aiming to prove up the extent and quality of the Ulan and Coggan Seams in the Bylong project, in the northwest Sydney Basin.

The coal seams intersected in the Bylong project area are being considered as both open cut and underground targets.

Two exploration drilling rigs are now operational on the Bylong project. A total of 14 holes for 2,292 metres have been drilled with cumulative down hole coal intercepts of up to 10.2 metres with an average thickness of 6.9 metres received.

The Bylong project was previously reported as a 423Mt (150Mt Indicated and 273Mt Inferred) export grade thermal coal resource and is managed by the company and 100% owned by KEPCO Australia Pty Limited, which has granted a 3 year call option to Cockatoo Coal to purchase a 30% interest in the project.
The company completed the acquisition of the Hume and Bylong projects on December 24, 2010.


Originally published at: http://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/18235/cockatoo-coal-kicks-off-drilling-at-hume-and-bylong-coal-projects-in-nsw-18235.html