Coal forms in sedimentary environments by the accumulation, compaction and induration of variously altered plant matter. It is a readily combustible sedimentary rock that contains more than 50% by mass and more than 70% by volume of carbonaceous material. Coal quality is determined by its grade, type and rank. Coal grade is inversely related to the percentage of inorganic material it contains. Coal type (maceral composition) is determined by the nature of the original plant material and its degree of alteration during the diagenic stage of coal formation.

Coal rank determines coal quality. Coal rank refers to the degree of metamorphism which resulted from increases in temperature and pressure after the burial of the original organic material by younger sediments. This metamorphism causes a change in the chemical composition and in the physical-chemical properties of the organic material. In general, the higher the rank of a coal, the deeper it was buried and the higher the temperature it was subjected to during and after burial. Older coals tend to be of higher rank because they are more likely to have been buried more deeply for longer periods of time.

Anthracite is a hard, compact variety of coal that has a high lustre. It has the highest carbon count and contains the fewest impurities of all coals, which makes it the highest ranking coal, despite its lower calorific content. Anthracite is the most metamorphosed type of coal, even though it represents low-grade metamorphism. Its carbon content is between 86% and 98%. Anthracite can be considered a transition between ordinary bituminous coal and graphite which is produced by the complete elimination of the volatile constituents of the former. Anthracite differs from ordinary bituminous coal in terms of hardness, relative density (1.3-1.4), and lustre (often semi-metallic with a mildly brown reflection. It is high in fixed carbon and low in volatile matter. It is also free from included soft or fibrous notches and does not soil the fingers when rubbed. The moisture content of fresh-mined anthracite is generally less than 15%.

The flat plateau of the Impati Mountain in the Impati South Project Area comprises the partially weathered upper zone of a ±100 m dolerite sill overlying a thin ±10 m basal unit of the Upper Ecca Group, grading downwards into the dolerite dyke and sill intruded sediments of the Middle Ecca Group. This Group hosts the very poorly to moderately developed Bonas and Fritz Seam coal seams, a poorly to moderately developed Alfred Seam and a reasonably developed Gus Seam which is the economic mining target. A thick dolerite sill transgresses the sediments along the northern scarp of Impati Mountain in a southerly direction with an upwards displacement of the coal seam horizons of about 37 m to the south. A complex transgressive ring dyke structure has been roughly outlined below the western scarp of Impati Mountain which hosts an inaccessible ± 40 m downthrown coal area. The coal horizons within this block are severely dolerite intruded. The heat of the dolerite intrusions has devolatilised the coal horizons.

The parting between the Alfred and Gus Seams in the area ranges from 1 m to 10 m. The Alfred Seam is thin, averaging 0.99 m while the Gus Seam averages 1.5 m. The Alfred Seam comprises good quality anthracite with no significant partings, while the Gus Seam has a persistent shale parting of 0.2 m to 0.4 m. The Vryheid formation in the Impati North Project Area is about 380 m thick. In the Impati Project Area, the Utrecht and Zuinguin dolerite sills are present. At least three major displacements occur in the Resource Area which range from 20 m to 50 m.

The Group is currently primarily engaged in underground coal mining at Aviemore. As of Q4 2018, the mine implemented a partial pillar extraction (called L-ing) to ensure the maximum potential reserves are extracted at the Aviemore mine. This change in mining schedule requires minimal capital and does not result in material changes in working cost. Based on this methodology and lower production levels achieved, the Aviemore mine schedule was adjusted and as a result the current Aviemore life of mine was extended from February 2020 to December 2022. The Company continues to mine the current Aviemore reserves by incorporating pillar extraction (L-ing) together with conventional mining techniques.

The Aviemore underground mine has an estimated production capacity of 33,400 ROM tonnes of anthracite per month or 400,800 ROM tonnes per calendar year and at this rate it is estimated that as of January 1, 2021, the current Aviemore reserve has 780,841 ROM tonnes remaining, which equates to approximately 2 years of production ending in December 2022.

The Balgray project which is planned to be the medium-term extension of the Aviemore resource, has an estimated reserve of 2.6 million ROM tonnes, which will allow the current production level of the Aviemore mine to operate economically for a further 5 years from FY 2022.

The Dundee Coal processing operation consists of two coal processing plants, namely the original Coalfields Plant and the new Magdalena Plant. The Magdalena Plant is similar in design to the original Coalfields Plant. The design is based on the original Coalfields Plant with some improvements in process design and construction materials.

The Aviemore Mine does not have its own processing plant. The ROM material is trucked to the Coalfields plant, which is situated in the eastern portions of the town of Dundee; approximately 14km by road from the mining site.

Raw coal is delivered by truck to a stockpile from where it is fed through two stages of crushing for primary sizing before delivery to the plant stockpile.

The Dundee Coal processing operation consists of two coal processing plants, namely the original Coalfields Plant and the new Magdalena Plant. The Magdalena Plant is similar in design to the original Coalfields Plant. The design is based on the original Coalfields Plant with some improvements in process design and construction materials.

The Aviemore Mine does not have its own processing plant. The ROM material is trucked to the Coalfields plant, which is situated in the eastern portions of the town of Dundee; approximately 14km by road from the mining site.

The processing plant consists of five sections comprising, crushing, large coal washing Heavy Media Separation (“HMS”) (Teska) Bath, small coal HMS cyclones, a spirals plant and slimes handling. Slimes from the spiral plant cyclone overflow are settled in an Ultrasep high-rate thickener which separates the solids from the water. Water is recycled to the plant while the thickener underflow is sent to settling ........