Report on Aratika Coalfield. Licence 35-208

Drilling by oil exploration companies within and close to CPL 35-208 indicated the presence of coal within the licence area which is not exposed at surface. Geophysical surveys have since indicated that coal bearing formations are likely to be extensive within the licence area. Available evidence indicates that Brunner & Paparoa Coal Measures which contain multiple seams of probable sub-bituminous coal up to 4.5m thick maybe present under less than 500m of cover over 6.5 km of the licence. The coal analysis obtained indicated a low sulphur coal which is likely to belong to Paparoa Group of Upper Cretaceous age. The inferred in-ground coal reserve of 90million tonnes previously quoted by Bowen, (1982) under cover less than 500m thick is thought to be realistic. Much of data incorporated in this report is extracted from a NZOG report by Matthews (1984)