Munna Creek coal discovery confirmed

TIARO Coal Ltd has announced discoveries of 20 to 30 million tonnes of coal, which it says “appears achievable” in the Munna Creek project area, north of Gympie.

The discovery has occurred in an exploration area which runs from just north of Tiaro to near Gunalda.

A company statement says test drilling has assessed a target zone three to four kilometres wide and at least 5km long.

A company report says the discovery includes a range of coal types, from “partly anthracitic” and coking coal to thermal coal styles.

The firm says it hopes to be able to produce “a high-grade premium metallurgical coal product” and in its next phase of exploration plans to finalise coal quality testing and an assessment of the economic market potential of the find. Technical director, Jacob Rebek, said his view is that a coal resource of 20 to 30 million tonnes is achievable in the target zone.

“This is includes a resource target in the order of 2 million to 5 million tonnes of high quality coking coal,” he said.

In a case of good-news-bad-news, the announcement will be welcomed by many for economic reasons, but has already caused concern among conservation interests, especially with regard to the likely effect of mining on Mary River and Great Sandy Straits water.

Farmers also have expressed annoyance with the many exploration teams drilling throughout the region.

The area has become an exploration hot spot for a range of minerals, including gold, silver, base metals and coal seam gas.

Exploration teams from four companies have been exploring the Maryborough basin (from about Curra north to Childers) over the past two years.

Other companies which have been drilling and surveying the area include Gympie Eldorado Gold, Northern Energy Corporation and Magellan Petroleum Australia.