The Vancouver-based company said the assessment was expected to be completed and delivered in the fourth quarter of this year, and the 2011 field program would involve resource definition drilling, engineering studies and environmental baseline studies for the Carbon Creek metallurgical coal deposit in the Peace River coal field.

The move for more information comes after Cardero received a National Instrument 43-101-compliant resource estimate from consultant Norwest that outlined 114 million tonnes of measured and indicated resources at Carbon Creek, plus an additional 89.1Mt inferred.

Coalhunter has received the necessary regulatory permits for the field program, which will include about 14,000 metres of core and rotary drilling totaling 46 holes and 19 holes, respectively.

The company said it had designed the program to upgrade all of its deposit-related data to full feasibility level.

A coal analysis and marketing review will also reveal to the company the clean coal product specifications of the resources as well as the potential market and pricing of output.

A feasibility-level mine design will also include geotechnical studies to fully assess surface and underground mining ground conditions and a hydrogeological assessment of fault structures and groundwater conditions.

Coalhunter has once again retained Norwest to complete the PEA at Carbon Creek. The end result study will provide the first 43-101-compliant indications of any potential project economics.

Cardero holds a 100% interest in Coalhunter Mining via a plan of arrangement inked earlier this year.

Coalhunter Mining has a 75% interest in the Carbon Creek property.