Gobi Desert
The Baruun Naran coal project is located in Tsogt-Tsetsii Soum of the South-Gobi Aimag (Province) in Mongolia. The project is approximately 500 km south of Ulaanbaatar and 200 km north of the Chinese-Mongolian border. The coal deposit occurs within a NE-SW striking basin consisting of Permian sedimentary rocks. The Russian data indicate that coal is contained within 12 seams with the four thickest seams each measuring 10 m wide or wider. The Russians and Mongolians originally explored Baruun Naran in 1983 and 1990. The Russian-Mongolian team identified coal seams over an area 1.5 km by 10.5 km in size. In this area, they drilled a total of 21 holes and intersected coal in 15 of the holes.
AATA International, Inc. and a team of our local Mongolian technical specialists EcoTrade, et al., conducted extensive environmental and social baseline studies at the site in preparation for permitting and development. Physical, chemical, biological, and sociocultural studies were conducted to define the existing environment, and to form a basis for social and environmental impact assessment. A satellite linked meteorological station was established at the BN camp and operated continuously. The site is located approximately 25 km west of the large Tavan Tolgoi project which is now being advanced. Mongolia is a major coal supplier to expanding target markets in China.
