Australian resource development company Mineral Commodities announced earlier this month that its South African subsidiary Mineral Sands Resources (MSR) had entered into a service agreement with South African independent contractor Engulftek to start exploration over an initial 12-month period at its offshore prospecting area, adjacent to its Tormin mine, in the Western Cape.

The services will include the exploration and sampling of the ultrashallow water section of the Tormin offshore prospecting area, using a diving sea sledge. Core sampling under the sea in the surf zone up to 300 m from the beach will also take place.

The scope of work follows a bathymetric and subbottom seafloor profiling geophysical survey over the surf-zone area, conducted by consultancy WSP, provided detailed information that was used to plan an underwater exploration drill sampling campaign.

The prospecting area held under prospecting rights (PR) WC 30/5/1/1/2/10036 and WC 30/5/1/1/2/10199 is to be investigated for its offshore heavy mineral sands potential that is currently the source of replenishment taking place on the beach held under mining rights WC 30/5/1/2/2/162 and WC 30/5/1/2/2/163.

The diving sea sledge will be mobilised, with exploration to start in June; this follows MSR being awarded the offshore PR in November 2015. The sledge and undersea drill tower is currently being constructed in South Africa.

The awarded PR WC 30/5/1/2/2/10199 represents about 10 500 ha seaward from MSR’s current Tormin mine and prospecting area WC 30/5/1/1/2/10036 PR.

In addition to the awarded rights, MSR has lodged a new PR and bulk sampling application, WC 30/5/1/2/10226, along the beach and surf zone north of its current mining operations. This application represents a target area of about 24 km along the coastline.

Historical exploration work by nonrelated parties have indicated the area to be prospective for heavy mineral sands deposits. This application is currently under review for approval by the Department of Mineral Resources.