The new Moranbah East shallow deposit in the Leichhardt seam of the Rangal Coal Measures, is consistently three to four metres thick over the 5.5 kilometre strike drilled to date.
Following the encouraging results, Aquila now have two rigs operating to drill out the deposit and to define the coal resource while large diameter core holes are being drilled for coal quality test work.
Over the September quarter Aquila will drill out the area to define distribution and structure of the seam and determine optimum products and yields.
The company will also commence engineering studies on a mine design and establish infrastructure requirements.
At a second prospect, north of Hail Creek open cut, exploration drilling in the Exevale Syncline has discovered an eight metre thick coal seam and traced it over a six kilometre strike.
