Cockatoo has drilled 64 holes for 9km in the Baralaba mine project area since the last update in October.

The best intersection was 18.3m in ML5605 while the average intercept was 8.2m.

At the Wonbindi project, 67 holes for 10.7km have been drilled since the last update with a best coal intersection of 15.9m and average intercepts of 7.9m.

Exploration at the Baralaba permit portfolio was to help mine planning for the next three years, while Cockatoo expects to add more tonnage to Wonbindi’s inferred resources of 43.6 million tonnes.

Cockatoo is using four rigs and will focus on the Baralaba North project area this year.

“Combining the Baralaba mine and Baralaba North geological models is in progress and will enable conceptual mine planning over 5 kilometres of strike length,” the company said.

Located on the southeastern arm of the Bowen Basin, the Baralaba mine is producing thermal and pulverised coal injection coal from the Rangal coal measures.

The mine is operated by Industrea and is 62.5%-owned by Cockatoo with Republic Coal owning 37.5%.

Shares in Cockatoo are down 1c to 41c this morning.