Overview
Stage | Permitting |
Mine Type | Open Pit |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
|
Processing |
- Dry Screening
- Spiral concentrator / separator
- Wash plant
- Dense media separation
|
Mine Life | 25 years (as of Jan 1, 2018) |
March 15, 2022 - Australian Pacific Coal (AQC) has been granted a five-year extension for mining operations at the Dartbrook coal mine. |
Latest News | Operations to restart at Dartbrook as extension denied August 12, 2019 |
Source:
p. 5, 66
Australian Pacific Coal Limited completed the acquisition of the Dartbrook coal mine in the Hunter Valley, NSW, on 29 May 2017.
AQC Dartbrook Management Pty Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Australian Pacific Coal Limited. AQC Dartbrook Management Pty Limited is the proprietor of the Dartbrook Mine.
February 21, 2022 - Australian Pacific Coal Limited (‘AQC’ or ‘Company’) has received from its major shareholder and creditor Trepang Services Pty Ltd (‘Trepang’), a binding offer for Trepang or its nominee to purchase the Dartbrook Coal Project through acquisition of 100% of the Company’s wholly owned subsidiaries (AQC Investments 2 Pty Ltd; ACQ Dartbrook Pty Ltd; AQC Dartbrook Management Pty Ltd and Dartbrook Coal (Sales) Pty Ltd ‘Subsidiaries’) (the Offer).
Summary:
Coal within Dartbrook is located on the western side of the Muswellbrook Anticline. Strata of the Permian Wittingham Coal Measures outcrop in the area and dip gently generally to the west. The location of the igneous intrusions and faults in the Dartbrook deposit is well-known. They have been considered for both resource estimation and mining operations. Based on observations from previous underground operations, the igneous intrusions and faults will have no material impact on the Dartbrook coal product qualities.
Within the Dartbrook Open Cut Pre-Feasibility Study mine schedule there are 13 coal seams amenable to open cut mining.
Summary:
AQC’s vision is to develop Dartbrook as a low impact, open cut, mining operation.
The Dartbrook tenements contain a total Coal Resource of approximately 2,534 Million tonnes (588 Mt Measured, 850 Mt Indicated, 1,097 Mt Inferred). Within this Coal Resource, open cut mining is amenable in areas for a total of 1,803 Mt at a depth shallower than 450m.
The OC PFS mine plan mines 226 Mt ROM coal with 190 Mt, or 84%, classified as a ROM Coal Reserve. Based on the modelled processing yield applied by the Competent Person and rounding, this equates to a Marketable Reserve of 140 Mt. This reflects the capacity of the proposed 10 Mtpa pit operating for 25 years, at a strip ratio of 4.0 to 1. Beyond the OC PFS mining pit, the Coal Reserve extends to the south, west and north of the OC PFS mining pit.
Processing
- Dry Screening
- Spiral concentrator / separator
- Wash plant
- Dense media separation
Source:
Summary:
Coal Handling & Preparation Plant
Dartbrook began operating exclusively with an unwashed (bypass) coal product that was crushed and sold directly to market. The existing Coal Handling & Preparation Plant (CHPP) was established several years later with a combination of washed and bypassed product produced. AQC’s CHPP technical consultant, Ausenco, has assessed the requirements to modify the existing CHPP to process approximately 30% as bypass coal whilst the remainder is washed at a nominal feed rate of 1,000 t/h as received across the wide number of coal types available to the Dartbrook operation.
The Dartbrook CHPP will produce two thermal export coal products with energy specifications of 6100 kCal/kg (GAR) and 5500 kCal/kg (GAR) for the high energy “Dartbrook Premium” and standard energy “Dartbrook Standard” products, respectively. Two-thirds of product coal produced will be Dartbrook Premium coal. The CHPP is a single product plant and will produce each of these pr ........

Projected Production:
Commodity | Product | Units | LOM |
Coal (thermal)
|
Clean coal
|
Mt
| 172 |
Coal (thermal)
|
ROM coal
|
Mt
| 226 |
Operational Metrics:
Metrics | |
Stripping / waste ratio
| 4 bcm/t * |
Raw coal annual capacity
| 10 Mt * |
* According to 2018 study.
Reserves at March 28, 2018:
The Coal Resource have been estimated in accordance with the JORC Code, 2012 Edition. The Dartbrook tenements contain a total Coal Resource of approximately 2,534 Million tonnes (588 Mt Measured, 850 Mt Indicated, 1,097 Mt Inferred). Within this Coal Resource, open cut mining is amenable in areas for a total of 1,803 Mt at a depth shallower than 450m.
The Dartbrook Marketable Coal Reserve of 370Mt is derived from a run of mine Coal Reserve of 470 Mt estimated in accordance with JORC 2012 with a predicted overall yield of 78%. The 370Mt Marketable Coal Reserve is included in the 2.5 Bt Coal Resource (588Mt Measured, 850 Mt Indicated, 1,097Mt Inferred).
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Marketable Coal |
Probable
|
470 Mt
|
Coal (thermal)
|
370 Mt
|
Measured
|
507 Mt
|
Coal (thermal)
|
|
Indicated
|
638 Mt
|
Coal (thermal)
|
|
Inferred
|
658 Mt
|
Coal (thermal)
|
|
Total Resource
|
1,803 Mt
|
Coal (thermal)
|
|
Commodity Production Costs:
| Commodity | Units | Average |
Assumed price
|
Coal (thermal)
|
USD
|
83 / t *
|
* According to 2018 study / presentation.
Operating Costs:
| Units | 2018 |
OP mining costs ($/t mined)
|
AUD
| 30.8 * |
Total operating costs ($/t processed)
|
AUD
| ......  |
* According to 2018 study.
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2018 Study Costs and Valuation Metrics :
Metrics | Units | LOM Total |
Pre-Production capital costs
|
$M AUD
|
......
|
Total CapEx
|
$M AUD
|
......
|
Operating margin, %
|
|
......
|
After-tax NPV @ 10%
|
$M AUD
|
......
|
After-tax IRR, %
|
|
......
|
After-tax payback period, years
|
|
......
|
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Mine Management:
Job Title | Name | Profile | Ref. Date |
.......................
|
.......................
|
|
Sep 17, 2021
|
- Subscription is required.
Staff:
Total Workforce | Year |
|
2018
|
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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News:
- Subscription is required.