 Rio Tinto Coal Australia's Kestrel coal mine, near Emerald was named after a bird found in the area.Other mines in the basin include Foxleigh coal mine, Coppabella coal mine, Collinsville coal mine, Blair Athol coal mine, Middlemount coal mine, Yarrabee coal mine, Poitrel coal mine, Daunia coal mine, South Walker Creek coal mine, Rolleston coal mine, Oaky Creek coal mine, Norwich Park coal mine, North Goonyella coal mine, Newlands coal mine, Moranbah North coal mine, Kestrel coal mine, Jellinbah coal mine, Gregory coal mine and German Creek coal mine.Ludwig Leichhardt was the first European to discover coal deposits in the region in 1845.