An area located immediately east and north-east of Coober Pedy is being explored for possible economic near-surface accumulations of the evaporite industrial mineral epsomite. Historic drilling and costeaning in this area performed by CRA Exploration more than 25 years ago revealed that significant quantities of Mg-sulphate salts are held within the Cretaceous sedimentary bedrock. Thus it is likely that additional near-surface occurrences exist within such rocks elsewhere in the region. The major evaporite minerals being sought are bloedite (MgSO4Na2SO4.4H2O), epsomite (MgSO4.7H2O) and hexahydrite (MgSO4.6H2O). Work undertaken by Minotaur's subsidiary BMV Properties Pty Ltd with relevance to its now relinquished ground, which comprises 48% of the originally granted licence area, has included making desktop reviews of data on the location, geology and geochemistry of local paleochannels, brines and evaporites, researching new developments in mineral matter leaching technologies, the conduct of reconnaissance field trips, and limited surface geochemical sampling for performing a trial analysis (2 soil samples assayed, 3 samples put through leaching trials). Because an Aboriginal heritage clearance survey done in March 2017 did not approve the site access being requested for undertaking a proposed exploratory shallow aircore drilling programme, and further negotiations held with a view to resolving the matter have become stalled, Minotaur decided to cut ongoing tenure costs by relinquishing much of the licence ground.