Harvest MineralsLtd. said May 10 that it commenced an environmental impact study requiredfor a trial mining permit for its Arapuafertilizer project in Brazil.

The company expects to file the license application in the secondquarter.

The move follows the completionof an air core drilling program at the project's Maximus prospect comprising a totalof 25 drill holes.

Drilling intersected consistent phosphate- and potassium oxide-enrichedclay weathered kamafugite rocks, and results also highlighted calcium oxide andmagnesium oxide grades of over 5%, potentially increasing the value of the materialas a multinutrient direct application natural fertilizer.

In addition, Harvest is undertaking a topographic survey andsample density measurements, which will be used to estimate a potential resource.