International Coal readies to drill test South Blackall Project, QLD

International Coal (ASX: ICX) has cleared all land access and cultural heritage issues at the South Blackall Project (EPC 2197) and will commence an extensive exploration and drilling program next week.

Geological and exploration consultants, the Moultrie Group will manage the exploration program for International Coal and representatives of Moultrie will be on site throughout the forthcoming weeks.

The initial exploration programme at South Blackall will consist of a range of drilling over areas identified as being highly prospective.

While no historical coal quality data is available from EPC 2197, aeromagnetic and gravity surveys were run in the vicinity of EPC2197 by the Department of Minerals and Environmental Research in 2007.

The results of these surveys have contributed to the proposed drilling and the assessment of the company’s Exploration Target of 8.8 billion tonnes in the Winton formation and 330-440 million tonnes in the Mackunda formation at South Blackall.

Results of the company’s drilling and exploration programe at South Blackall will be made available to the market as soon as results are available.

South Blackall comprises an area of 768.82 square kilometres as per the Queensland Government spatial representation of this tenement. The area consists of 250 sub-blocks.  The site is located 80 kilometres north-east of Quilpie in south-west Queensland and is part of the Eromanga and Galilee Sedimentary Basins.

Currently, East Energy Resources (ASX: EEC) operates 90 kilometres to the north of EPC2197. East Energy has previously announced the detail of a 1.2 billion tonne JORC Inferred Resource.

There is also evidence of substantial activity within this region with Sentry Petroleum Limited operating 120 kilometres to the north of the project.

Bundaberg project

Meanwhile, progress has been made in the early stages of the proposed exploration program at the company’s prospective coking coal projects in the Bundaberg region.

Details of a detailed exploration and drilling program will be announced soon. The Bundaberg projects will also be managed by the Moultrie Group.

They service all of the major coal and coal seam gas producing areas including the Central Queensland (Bowen Basin), the Darling Downs, northern New South Wales and the Hunter Valley region of New South through Moultrie Hire’s offices in Mackay, Brisbane and Newcastle.

New projects under review

Interestingly, the company said it is reviewing a number of additional coking and thermal coal projects based in Queensland for acquisition.

Originally published at: http://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/18640/international-coal-readies-to-drill-test-south-blackall-project-qld-18640.html