Yari Resources reveals multiple coal product pathways at its Arcadia Coal Project, including semi-soft coking, PCI, and high-energy thermal coal, supported by a 10% average in-situ ash and expanded technical data.
- Arcadia coal quality supports diverse product types
- Approximately 32% of deposit shows semi-soft coking potential
- Expanded dataset includes five petroleum/CSG wells
- 282Mt Mineral Resource remains unchanged
- Next phase targets product optimisation and beneficiation
Coal Quality Review Reveals Product Versatility
Yari Resources Limited (ASX:YAR) has identified promising multiple product pathways from its recently acquired Arcadia Coal Project in Queensland’s Bowen Basin, including semi-soft coking, pulverised coal injection (PCI), and high-energy thermal coal. An independent coal-quality review by McMahon Resources analysed 44 bore cores and 1,472 samples, revealing an average in-situ ash content of about 10%, which supports flexible raw-coal processing options.
The findings suggest Arcadia’s deposit is not limited to a single coal specification but offers the potential to selectively target different products across the deposit. This flexibility could allow Yari to tailor mining and beneficiation strategies to market demands, enhancing project value.
Preliminary Semi-Soft Coking Coal Potential
A preliminary tonnage-weighted assessment indicates that roughly 32% of the low-ash deposit could exhibit semi-soft coking coal characteristics, with an average Crucible Swell Number (CSN) around 3. Historical beneficiation testwork suggests that washing can reduce ash content and increase CSN by 1–2 points, potentially boosting the proportion of semi-soft coking coal. However, this figure is preliminary and does not constitute a formal resource classification.
PCI and High-Energy Thermal Coal Opportunities
Arcadia’s naturally low ash content also supports the potential for high-yield PCI and high-energy thermal coal products, achievable through selective raw coal mining. Beneficiation could further enhance product quality by reducing ash and increasing energy content, providing marketable coal with minimal processing requirements.
Expanding Technical Dataset Bolsters Resource Understanding
Yari is expanding the Arcadia technical database beyond the 2017 geological model by incorporating five additional cored petroleum and coal seam gas (CSG) wells, along with three 2022 coal exploration holes. These wells, previously excluded from the resource model, provide valuable geological, geophysical, and coal-quality data that may support resource growth and improved geological modelling. The company continues to validate and integrate further historical drilling and datasets.
This move aligns with Yari’s broader strategy to consolidate district-scale coal assets in the Bowen Basin, complementing its existing Rolleston South project. Together, these projects offer exposure to over 500 million tonnes of coal resources in a well-established coal region with existing infrastructure.
Next Steps Focus on Product Strategy and Beneficiation
Yari and McMahon Resources will now undertake detailed analyses to define product proportions, yields, specifications, and beneficiation requirements across the identified coal pathways. This work aims to optimise the product strategy for Arcadia within Yari’s broader Rolleston district coal strategy. While the current Mineral Resource Estimate remains at 282 million tonnes, the expanded technical data could inform future resource updates.
Managing Director Courtney Taylor highlighted the project’s emerging flexibility and the company’s commitment to building a comprehensive technical database to support next-stage planning. The integration of additional historical datasets and ongoing technical reviews position Yari to refine its approach amid rising competition in the Bowen Basin.
Bottom Line?
Arcadia’s coal quality flexibility and expanding dataset position Yari to refine product strategies amid Bowen Basin consolidation.
Questions in the middle?
- How will beneficiation impact the economic viability of semi-soft coking coal at Arcadia?
- To what extent could the integration of petroleum/CSG wells influence future resource estimates?
- What timelines will Yari set for advancing detailed product specification studies?