Section 12 in The Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2017
12. Prospecting and mining operations.
(1)The prospecting and mining operations shall be carried out in such a manner so as to ensure systematic development of mineral deposits, conservation of minerals and protection of the environment.(2)The prospecting licence or prospecting licence-cum-mining lease holder shall carry out exploration as per the norms provided in the Minerals (Evidence of Mineral Contents) Rules, 2015:Provided that the exploration norms shall be specified by the Atomic Minerals Directorate for Exploration and Research, in respect of minerals specified in Part B of the First Schedule to the Act.(3)The holder of a mining lease shall carry out detailed exploration (G1 level) over the entire potentially mineralised area under the mining lease, within a period of five years from the date of opening of the mine after execution of such mining lease.(4)In the case of existing mining leases detailed exploration (G1 level) over the entire potentially mineralised area under the mining lease shall be carried out within a period of five years from the date of commencement of these rules.(4A)[ In case of mining leases covered under sub-section (6) of section 8A of the Act where the date of expiry of the period of such lease is on 31st March, 2020, the holders of such mining lease shall carry out General Exploration (G2) over the entire mineralised area under the mining lease before the 1st day of April, 2019 and for this purpose,-(a)submit to State Government and the Indian Bureau of Mines, within forty five days of issue of this notification, a modified mining plan in accordance with the provisions of the Minerals (Other than Atomic and Hydro Carbons Energy Minerals) Concession Rules, 2016 for completion of General Exploration (G2) over the entire mineralised area under the mining lease as required under clause (a) of rule 5 of the Minerals (Evidence of Mineral Contents) Rules, 2015, in such manner that the plan for exploration is completed before 1st April, 2019, and such plan shall be approved by the Indian Bureau of Mines within thirty days of its submission, with or without any modification;(b)prepare and submit to the State Government and the Indian Bureau of Mines, a Geological Study Report as required under clause (b) of rule 5 of the Minerals (Evidence of Mineral Contents) Rules, 2015, within one month after completion of exploration work:Provided that the depth of exploration to be proposed in the modified mining plan for open cast mining shall be up to 300 meters or up to discontinuance of ore body, whichever is earlier, and in case of underground mines, the depth of exploration shall be decided by the Indian Bureau of Mines on case to case basis at the time of approval of such plan, depending upon the geological set up of the area:Provided further that the State government shall conduct periodical technical audit of approved modified plan either by itself or through an agency nominated by it and in case lease holder fails to perform his duties as so specified, the State Government may, after giving the lease holder an opportunity of being heard, take such action for enforcing compliance, as it deems fit.] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 289(E), dated 27.3.2018 (w.e.f. 27.2.2017).](5)The sampling of drill cores or chips, pit samples and trench samples shall be done for the entire mineralised portion at regular intervals, preferably meter wise or less, and chemical analysis for the major radical shall be done for all the samples.(6)Mineral resources shall be estimated periodically based on exploration carried out and the resources shall be estimated up to the threshold value of the mineral, as may be notified by Indian Bureau of Mines, from time to time and the updated resources shall be furnished in the Review of the Mining Plan at the interval of five years.(7)Indian Bureau of Mines shall review the threshold values of minerals periodically in consultation with the stake holders.
