Apply for a mineral lease for small scale mining

If you want to conduct small scale mining, you will need a mineral lease for small scale mining (MLSSM).

Summary

An MLSSM gives you the right to occupy the title area.

It also gives you exclusive rights to conduct all the following activities in the title area:

carry out exploration for minerals or extractive minerals in the title area and other activities specified in the Mineral Titles Act 2010
conduct operations and works that are reasonably necessary for that purpose, including the removal from the title area, and the treatment of, tailings or other minerals treatment of tailings and other material
carry out mining for minerals in the title area and any operations and works that are reasonably necessary for or associated with that purpose
remove minerals
any other approved activities specified in the lease
mine extractive minerals when that mining is directly associated with the mining of minerals
engage in tourist fossicking.

Area covered by an MLSSM

Up to 40 hectares.

Lease term

Up to 10 years.

Conditions

In addition to the conditions on mineral titles, you must also do all of the following:

provide annual reports about reserves and production to the Department of Mining and Energy between 1 July and 14 July every year
meet the terms of any contractual arrangement entered into about developing, mining and processing mineral deposits in the lease area
carry out work in a way that interferes as little as possible with the rights of other occupiers of land around the lease area.

How to apply

To apply, follow the steps below:

Step 1. Fill in the form and prepare supporting materials

Use this form to apply for a mineral lease.

Mineral lease for small scale mining (approved form 48) PDF (263.0 KB)
Mineral lease for small scale mining (approved form 48) DOCX (128.6 KB)

Read about the required supporting materials.

Step 2. Submit your application and pay the fee

To find out how much you must pay, read about rents, fees and other costs.

You must include the application fee when submitting your application.

After you apply

Find out how your application is assessed.

Process

Find out the grant process of an MLSSM over:

Tell the landowner/manager

You must notify landowners when you apply for a mineral title and there are specific processes you must follow.

When you apply for any mineral title, you must tell each landowner affected by the application. You must do this within 14 days of submitting the application to the department.

Read more about notifying the landowner.