The applicants propose, upon grant of the tenement, to undertake a phased exploration programme for heavy mineral sands following the indications of mineral sands on prospecting licence 70/444 and their possible extension into the exploration licence application area. PL 70/444 is now subject to an application for a mining lease (ML 70/620).
Phase One of the programme involves a limited survey on foot using hand-held magnetometers, which may may also involve the collection of surface soil samples. This would be followed by drilling of about 17 transects, with up to six holes per transect, using a light Toyota-mounted rig. Access to and along each transect will involve either using existing tracks or rolling over the vegetation with limited hand cutting. No ground surface clearing by heavy equipment will be undertaken. Drilling will use compressed air without chemical additives and the holes will be back-filled. Restoration of the drill sites and access tracks will be designed to leave no permanent evidence of the exploration activity.