Palaeontological Impact Assessment

The proposed site lies mostly on the possibly fossiliferous Allanridge and Bothaville Formations, (Platberg Group, Ventersdorp Supergroup) that is overlain by Quaternary soils although no fossils have been recorded from this area. Fossil woods have been recorded from the Quaternary diamondiferous terraces and alluvium that is likely to be the target of the project. Therefore, Fossil Chance Find Protocol should be added to the EMPr. Based on this information it is recommended that no further palaeontological impact assessment is required unless fossils are found by the contractor, environmental officer or other designated responsible person once excavations or drilling activities have commenced. Since the impact will be very low, as far as the palaeontology is concerned, the project should be authorised.