The Mink Creek East (West) coal occurrences are located between the Brule mine (093P 007) to the southeast and Falling Creek deposit (093O 036) to the northwest, about 36 kilometres southwest of Chetwynd.
The Lower Cretaceous Gething Formation (Bullhead Group) consists of alternating units of fine to coarse-grained sandstone, carbonaceous shale, coal, siltstone and conglomerate. Three to four significant coal seams occur in the upper part of this formation. The upper contact is a thin bed of pebble conglomerate overlain by distinctive glauconitic, marine sandstones that form the base of the overlying Moosebar Formation (Fort St. John Group). Its thickness ranges from 120 to 200 metres.
In 2011, Anglo Coal plc acquired the balance of interests in the Peace River Coal Limited Partnership to become sole owner. Walter Energy Inc. purchased Western Coal Corp., now a wholly-owned subsidiary company, and with it Western’s three mines – Perry Creek (093P 025), Brule (093P 007) and Willow Creek (093O 008) – and all exploration interests.
In 2011, Western Coal Corp. conducted exploration on the Mink Creek West project consisting of trenching, 150 metres of diamond drilling, and 4320 metres of reverse circulation drilling. In 2012, Walter Energy (Western Coal) drilled 37 holes (7220 metres) for preliminary coal quality information and coal seam characteristics.