Nautilus Minerals has started a collaborative exploration effort to search for new Seafloor Massive Sulphide (SMS) systems in Tonga.

The collaborative program is between the Australian National University (ANU) and Teck Cominco and involves the Australian Marine National Facility vessel RV Southern Surveyor which is managed by the Australian government research organization, CSIRO.

The objective of the program is to discover new SMS systems on Nautilus tenements in the Peggy Ridge area within the excusive economic zone of Tonga. The RV Southern Surveyor will target prospective ground using a variety of instruments to detect geochemical plumes associated with SMS systems.

This program is in addition to the Phase 1 (MV Sepura) and Phase 2 (DEA Surveyor) programs and is funded as part of Teck Cominco's US$12 million 2008 exploration program on Nautilus' Papua New Guinea and Tonga granted tenements.

Teck Cominco directly chartered the Phase 1 and 2 vessels and is collaborating with the scientific community in the latest program.

ANU lead scientist Richard Arculus says: “Our collaborative team is excited to be working with Teck Cominco and Nautilus to complete this work in Tonga. Through this collaboration we anticipate extending the bounds of science by completing research that would otherwise not occur."

Nautilus' CEO David Heydon says: "The Southern Surveyor cruise is a win-win. Nautilus and Teck Cominco are able to utilize a well equipped vessel that is already mobilized in the target survey area. With an international group of university scientists, we have access to leading researchers to work with our exploration team, maximizing the opportunities to further build our prospect inventory and project portfolio."

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