Marine protected area will not impact Xolobeni - Mineral Commodities

the proposed marine protected area in south africa's eastern cape province will not impact the xolobeni mineral sands project, according to project owner mineral commodities ltd. the australian-based company said that the frontal dunes and riverine systems had been excluded from planned prospecting and mining, and that there was an adequate buffer between the resource boundaries of the mineralised blocks and the high-water-mark boundary of the protected area. the xolobeni deposit, located 200 km south of durban, contains a resource of 313 mt at 5.4% heavy minerals. pre-feasibility work on the project has scoped out a potential us$202 million development, including a mineral separation plant and downstream smelter.