The testing was carried out using bulk samples of coal collected from cores taken from a representative location within the deposit, which was washed to produce a 10% ash coking coal product.

The testing was undertaken on the GL and GLB seams at the ALS Global facility in Riverview.

The test results confirmed that Grosvenor West’s hard coking coal would be a world-class product, as indicated by the coke strength after reaction values came back in excess of 70.

Carabella said the figure ranked among the highest of internationally traded coals.

Coke yield reached 76.2% in the GL seam and 76.6% on the GLB seam.

Grosvenor West has the potential to produce a hard coking coal product comparable to neighbouring producing mines including Goonyella Riverside and North Goonyella.

“The demonstration of the excellent coking properties for Grosvenor West coal further confirms that this is a world-class hard coking coal, which will be highly sought after by coal customers,” Carabella managing director Anthony Quin said.

“These results position Carabella favourably compared to similar Australian coal companies and validate our confidence in this robust project.”

Carabella remains on track to kick off feasibility work on Grosvenor West in mid-2012.

Grosvenor West is located 10km northwest of Moranbah in the northern Bowen Basin.

A concept study for the project completed in March confirmed the mine could produce up to 5 million tonnes per annum of coal by 2015.