Compliance Energy has said that the testing completed at GWIL Industries (Birtley Coal & Mineral Testing Division) in Calgary Alberta, and SGS North America (Mineral Services Division) in West Virginia on core from the 2009 drilling program has confirmed that coal from the Raven Project on Vancouver Island is a High Volatile Bituminous A coking coal.
The characteristics of this type of coal allow it to be blended with other coking coals (low to mid volatile) for the production of coke used in steel making. The Raven coal exhibits similar characteristics to The Kellerman and Elkhorn Group (Blend Group G5) of coals under the classification of Coking Coal By Quality By Group used historically by Nippon Steel.
The 2009 drill program confirmed continuity of the coal seams as anticipated. In the 42 drill holes completed, a total of 9899mt was drilled and coal was intersected in all but one of the 42 holes. Washability tests have also confirmed the assumptions on preparation plant yield used in the 2007 Preliminary Assessment, which was produced by Associated Geosciences.
The Raven coal exhibits strong coking properties (Free Swelling Index, Fluidity, and Dilatation), its resultant coke strength is low. Typical western Canadian coals are medium or low volatile, inertinite-rich coking coals and the Raven Coal is a high volatile vitrinite-rich coking coal that is similar to high volatile coking coals from eastern Canada, the eastern USA and some parts of Australia.
Based on washability tests on the core from Seam One, preparation plant yield of washed coal (10% ash) is expected to be in the range of 40 to 45%. It is anticipated that under this scenario, overall plant yield may be able to be increased to 55% to 60% by also producing a middlings product with higher ash content, which could potentially be sold as a thermal product.
The company said that if a washed coal of 15 % ash was produced (high energy content thermal coal) as a standalone product, plant yield would increase to over 60%. Preparation plant design is currently being studied by Pincock Allen and Holt as part of the overall feasibility study.
The company added that good overall progress is being made on the Raven Project. It is anticipated that The BC Environmental Assessment Office will ask for a public review and comment of the proposed scope sometime in the next few months. After final approval of the scope the company will be free to submit its application for an Environmental Assessment Certificate.