Ann: Columboola JV Increases Resource to 1.297 Bi, page-3

re: Ann: Columboola JV Increases Resource to ... System,
I think its just the market but a couple of points:
-resource appears to be all u/g being >100m depth
-seams are OK thickness for u/g but 30% raw ash which probably means a washery and yield of 60-65% for acceptable thermal product
-no one in my research has attempted u/g in the Surat coals due to their lenticular nature.I do know there was some very old handworked u/g's at Acland and Rosewood.
-modern longwall u/g costs for this type of operation I'm guessing would be about $40/tonne to surface. Add $5 washing cost=$45 and yield =$67 /clean tonne at mine
-anyone's guess at rail and port but could be in the order of $25-35 when they become available

I think a resultant product quality would be fine but the margins are certainly tight. The best position here would be development by an end user who was primarily concerned with supply rather than profit. Sino?

Still its a sizeable resource and there are worse being touted around the place!