LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - North American metallurgical coal miner Bens Creek announced the results of the initial quality analysis of its stock of metallurgical coal on Monday, following the start of production in December at its West Virginia site.
The AIM-traded firm said the samples tested were within the quality margins required by the recently-signed offtake agreement with Integrity Coal, confirming its characteristics were in line with Ben's Creek's benchmark metallurgical coal specification.

The Gallagher Coal Research Center was engaged by the company to undertake a full analysis of the metallurgical coal samples taken from the Upper Cedar Grove seam at the Bens Creek property.

Seven test samples, consisting of solid seams and augured seams, were delivered to Gallagher in December, with the ash and sulphur content from those samples analysed.

Following the analysis, the quality of the metallurgical sample was considered to be 'Hi Vol B'.

The company said the analysis results of the four solid seams showed the ash content having an average of 5.64%, the average volatile matter was 36.01%, the average sulphur content was 0.72%, and the average Arnu Dilatometer test of the swelling properties of coal when heated under standard conditions was 146.

They also showed the fluidity average was +29,500, and the carbon content was about 58% using 1.60 gravity.

"We are delighted with these initial test results," said chief executive officer Adam Wilson.

"The Gallagher Research Center tested the ash and sulphur from seven coal samples from the Highwall Mined coal.

"The samples from the solid seams either exceeded or were within the quality margins required under the terms of the offtake agreement with Integrity Coal, as previously announced in October."

Wilson said Gallagher would conduct further tests, with the company expecting those would yield similar positive results.

"We intend to test the Eagle Seam in late January [or] beginning of February, and are confident that the results of these tests will be positive."

At 1443 GMT, shares in Bens Creek Group were up 0.65% at 34.22p.

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