The company defined a total resource of 18.2 million tons and the estimate comprises 6.6 million tons of indicated resources and 11.6 million tons of inferred resources of coal.
Additionaly, an exploration target of 5-33 million tons was also identified and Carabella has now initiated a drilling program to upgrade the resources estimate.
The company has lodged a mining lease application and environmental authority application, supporting a planned open cut operation at Bluff to produce nearly 1 million tons of coal annually.
The Mining Lease Application covers an area of 1,107ha of land located south of the township of Bluff, about 20km east of Blackwater.
Carabella has also commenced environmental studies and expects to secure approvals within one year.
Carabella managing director Anthony Quin remarked that the lodgement of the mining lease application and environmental authority application in February is an important milestone for the company.
"We have progressed the drilling program into the recently acquired tenement CLER 3158A and have established continuity of seams into this area.
"Carabella remains on track for project approvals and commencement of mining at Bluff in early 2014," Quin said.
