Summary of mineral title types and conditions
Listed below are the types of mineral titles you can get and the conditions that apply to each.
For information about fees and advertising costs, check the list of rents and fees.
Details | Exploration licence | Exploration licence in retention (ELR) | Mineral lease | Mineral lease for small scale mining (MLSSM) | Mineral lease for fossicking (MLF) | Mineral lease for tourist fossicking (MLTF) | Extractive mineral exploration licence (EMEL) | Extractive mineral permit (EMP) | Extractive mineral lease | Mineral authority |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Purpose | To explore for minerals | To carry out feasibility study or retain ore body not economically viable | To mine for minerals, and/or erect infrastructure | To explore and mine for minerals | To conduct commercial fossicking | To conduct commercial tours for tourist fossicking | To explore for extractive minerals | To extract, remove, store or process extractive minerals | To mine for extractive minerals and/or erect infrastructure | To correspond with any mineral title |
Maximum area | 250 blocks 1 block = 3.22km2 | Not to exceed the area of the granted Mineral Exploration Licence | No limit | 40 hectares | 20 hectares | 40 hectares | 2 blocks | 100 hectares | 100 hectares | As per corresponding title type |
Type of land | Any land | Any land held under applicants granted exploration licence | Any land -special conditions apply to Aboriginal land | Any land -special conditions apply to Aboriginal land | Any land -special conditions apply to Aboriginal land | Any land -special conditions apply to Aboriginal land | Any land | Any land | Any land | General reserved land |
Maximum term | 6 years | 5 years | For a term the minister considers appropriate | 10 years | 5 years | 5 years | 3 years | 5 years | 10 years | For a term the minister considers appropriate |
| Renewable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Security | May be required | May be required | May be required | May be required | May be required | May be required | May be required | |||
Obligations | To carry out approved exploration program | To be worked subject to licence conditions | To be worked subject to lease conditions | To be worked subject to lease conditions | To be worked subject to lease conditions | To be worked subject to lease conditions | To carry out activities subject to exploration for extractive minerals | To be worked subject to permit conditions | To be worked subject to lease conditions | As per grant conditions |
Transferable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Compensation payable to land owners or occupiers | May be required | May be required | May be required | May be required | May be required | May be required | May be required | May be required | May be required | May be required |
Environmental mining licence needed for substantial disturbance | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Special provisions | Must relinquish 50% of licence area on renewal of EL | Must continue to evaluate the commercial viability of the area | Must be surveyed by a licensed surveyor if over 40 hectares Under 40 hectares - must be marked out prior to grant | A person may only hold one MLSSM at any time | The minister may limit the number of MLF's granted in relation to a particular person and any other person associated with that person | The minister may limit the number of MLTF's granted in relation to a particular area or person and any other person associated with that person | Rent payable (in advance) for full period of grant | Must be marked out prior to grant | Survey depends on size and location of application. Refer to Part 3 Mineral Titles Regulations. | As per corresponding title type |
Get the Summary of exploration and mining titles in the NT PDF (554.0 KB).