CORNISH mining’s revival may take another step forward – with the Crown Estate announcing it is to consider whether to sell mineral extraction rights off the coast.

The Crown will consider offering rights to extract tin and other minerals on or under the seabed off the coast of Cornwall.

It says the potential offer is in response to market interest in deposits of tin and other minerals in the county.

Parties can register their interest in the potential offer from noon on Monday, March 5.

Registrations must be made via The Crown Estate’s eTender portal: https://etendering.thecrownestate.co.uk/web/login.shtml.

The registration of interest will close at noon on March 29.

Rights could extend up to 12 nautical miles offshore and the Crown Estate says any tender process will require applicants to demonstrate they meet high technical, financial and environmental performance standards.

Applicants must also demonstrate how they intend to work with local people.

In the first place, rights would only give the opportunity to explore the potential mineral resources and would not amount to permission to carry out mining.

Permission for extraction would require a full environmental impact assessment, public consultation and a statutory consent from the relevant regulatory body or authority.

Applications of interest will be assessed independently by technical specialists, said the estate.

Depending on the level of interest, The Crown Estate says assessment could take some time and it does not expect to award any rights before 2019.

At the height of Cornwall’s Victorian mining boom, several mines extended deep under the sea.