[meteorite-list] Proposal To Mine In Meteorite Impact Site In South Africa Causes Concern

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:08:22 2004
Message-ID: <200209062011.NAA18482_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://allafrica.com/stories/200208310152.html

Proposal to Mine in Vredefort Area Causes Concern
Business Day (Johannesburg)
August 30, 2002

By Nasreen Seria
Cape Town, South Africa

An area including a proposed world heritage site is the subject of conflict over
possible granite mining, which it is feared could destroy the tourism potential of
the area.

The Vredefort Dome, close to the Free State town of Parys, is the area of one of
the world's oldest meteorite impact sites the cause of large granite deposits in
the area.

Application has been made to declare the area, which straddles the Vaal River
along the borders of Free State and North West, a world heritage site.

The Vredefort Dome structure stretches across 140km-160 km, but the heritage
site makes up a small proportion of this.

Marlin Granite, a subsidiary of Anglo American, is carrying out initial studies on
granite mining, but insists it would not be mining in the area designated as a
World Heritage Site.

"We have investigated the heritage site area, and have found granite deposits
there, but will not be mining in that area," said Etienne Dreyer, a geologist with
the company.

Studies, which will be completed in 10 days, are being conducted outside of the
heritage site, further north.

If it decides to mine in the area, an application would be made to Free State's
minerals and energy affairs department, which would undertake an environmental
impact assessment first.

Residents in the area said they would oppose any plans for open-cast granite
mining, and have raised concerns about destruction of the unique ecosystem.

The area has been the focus of conflict between mining companies and those
opposed to development of the area in the past.

An application by gold mining company Randfontein Estates to mine in the area
covered by the world heritage site was turned down in 1999.

Free State's environmental affairs department is seeking to update its regulations
to include mining as a listed activity, which would require prospector's to go via
the department rather than the mineral and energy affairs department for
permission to mine in the area.

Nomazizi Mdi, environmental affairs director, said public consultation on the
matter would take place over the next six months.
Received on Fri 06 Sep 2002 04:11:30 PM PDT