Location
The Wonbindi Project is located in the same region as the Baralaba Mine, which is in Central Queensland about 150 km west of Gladstone and 50 km north of Moura.
Ownership
The holder of the Wonbindi Project's tenements is Wonbindi Coal Pty Limited ("Wonbindi Coal") which is owned by JFE Shoji Trade Corporation (20%) and Cockatoo Coal Limited (80%).
Tenements
The Wonbindi Project comprises the tenements EPC 1047 and MDL 352.
EPC 1047 covers an area of about 200 km2 and extends over a strike length of 44 km. MDL 352 covers an area of around 12 km2 within EPC 1047.
Geology
The Wonbindi Project area is located on the south eastern flank of the Bowen Basin. The principal coal bearing sequence is the Rangal Coal Measures of uppermost Permian age. The Rangal Coal Measures sub-crop as a north westerly trending belt. These coal bearing measures are mined at Blackwater, Cook, Yarrabee, Curragh, and Baralaba.
The Baralaba North deposit lies just to the north of Baralaba Coal Pty. Ltd.’s MDL 184.
Exploration
During the period 1960 to 2005, exploration in the area now covered by EPC 1047 was undertaken by Brigalow Mines Pty Ltd, Allied Queensland Coalfields Ltd and Mt Robert Coal Pty Ltd ("Mt Robert Coal").
In October 2005 Wonbindi Coal acquired the tenements then comprising the Wonbindi Project from Mt Robert Coal.
Initially Wonbindi Coal's main exploration focus was within the area defined by MDL 352. However it has now shifted to the Baralaba North area.
Development Concept
The development concept for Baralaba North is that it will likely be mined as part of a northern extension of the Baralaba Mine.
The development concept for MDL 352 is a mine similar in nature to the Baralaba Mine.
The coal quality at both Baralaba North and MDL 352 is expected to be similar to the coal quality at the Baralaba Mine.
If other suitable inventories of coal are located within the Wonbindi Project area then it is possible that other mines could be developed and operated in parallel.