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Union of India - Section
Section 19 in The Minerals (Evidence of Mineral Contents) Rules, 2015
19. Economic (E1) Quantities, reported in tonnes or volume with grade/ quality, demonstrated by means of a Prefeasibility Study or Feasibility Study in order of increasing accuracy, that justify extraction under the technological, economic, environmental and other relevant conditions, realistically assumed at the time of the determination.
Part-II Geological Parameters for exploration| 1 | Aerial reconnaissance:Satellite imagery/ remotesensing/ airborne geophysical survey etc. using appropriatetechnology (applicable mainly for reconnaissance exploration(G4) stage). |
| 2 | Topographic & Geological survey (Mapping):On 1 :50,000 or smaller scale for reconnaissance (G4) stage; on1:25000 to 1 : 10,000 or larger scale for preliminaryexploration (G3) stage; 1:4000/1 : 5,000 or larger scale forgeneral exploration(G2) stage; on 1 : 2,000 or larger scale fordetailed exploration (G1) stage. |
| 3 | Ground Geophysical and Geochemical survey:Geophysicaland geochemical survey using appropriate techniques as may benecessary. |
| 4 | Technological:Exploration and sampling usingappropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops,trenches, pits, old workings and drill holes. The samplinglocations are spaced suitably (in a grid pattern to the extentpossible and may be modified depending on structural complexity)for establishing existence of ore body and its lateral andvertical continuity. Part III of the schedule may be referredfor further details. |
| For General (G2) and detailed (G1) stages of exploration thedepth continuity of mineralisation may be considered limited tothe depth upto which direct evidence of mineralization isestablished. | |
| The lateral extension to be considered for resourceassessment shall depend on geological considerationssupplemented by geological continuity by mapping or by othermeans and in any case shall not be more than 50% of the gridspacing of the probe points. | |
| Assessment based on selected information such as isolatedassays, isolated drill holes, assays of panned concentrates etc.is not recommended. | |
| 5 | Sampling & sub sampling:(a) Randomgrab/chip/channel sampling from surface exposure/escarpments/nallah cuttings/ pit/ channel etc. for reconnaissance stage. |
| (b) Systematic sampling from pits/ trenches/ outcrops/workings etc. spaced closely enough to confirm geological andgrade continuity for other stages of geological assessment. | |
| (c) Geological logging and sampling of drill core/chipsamples at regular interval, preferably meter wise or less forthe mineralized portions. | |
| (d) The drill technique to be deployed shall depend on therock type to be penetrated and with an aim to achieve maximumsample/core recovery. | |
| (e) The exploration samples including surface samples, drillcore/ chip samples shall be preserved, for future use. | |
| 6 | Assay data & Laboratory tests:Analysis of allsamples generated for major radicals appropriate to the mineralunder investigation. Analysis of byproducts such as Ga inbauxite, Ni, PGE in chromite, Au in iron ore, Ag in lead andzinc, Au in copper ore etc. and other deleterious elementswherever necessary. |
| 7 | Petrographic & Mineragraphic studies:Petrographicanalysis of mineralized portions to ascertain the rock types andmineral assemblages including grain size, texture, gaunge andits liberation characteristics etc. if considered necessary. |
| 8 | Bulk density study:The bulk density must be measuredby methods that adequately account for incipient void spaces(vugs, porosity, etc.) in mineral/ ore body |
| 9 | Bulk Sampling for Beneficiation studies:Bulk samplingif necessary for testing processing technology. |
| 10 | Environmental setting:Details about localinfrastructure, host population, historical sites, forests,sanctuaries, national park and base line information onenvironmental setting of the area to be collected. |
| 11 | Any other relevant data:Groundwater, geo-technicaland rock characteristics etc. that may be relevant. |
| Type of deposit & principal minerals | G4 stage | G3 stage | G2 stage | G1 stage | Remarks |
| I. Bedded Stratiform and tabular deposits ofregular and irregular habit:Iron ore, manganese ore,bauxite, limestone, chromite/ potash and salt beds etc. | Scout drilling, if necessary (In line with gridspecified by the Central Government from time to time) | For limestone, bauxite, potash and salt beds thegrid spacing of bore holes may be 800m or closer for deposits ofregular habit and 400m or closer for irregular habit; for othersthe spacing may be 400m or closer for regular and 200m or closerfor irregular habit. | For limestone, bauxite, potash and salt beds thegrid spacing of bore holes may be 400m or closer for regularhabit and 200m or closer for irregular habit; for others thespacing may be 200m or closer for regular habit and 100m orcloser for irregular habit. | For limestone, bauxite, potash and salt beds thegrid spacing of bore holes may be 200m or closer for regularhabit and 100m or closer for irregular habit; for others thespacing may be 100m or closer for regular habit and 50m or closerfor irregular habit. | For shallow surficial deposits continuing to adepth of up to 6m from surface pitting in a grid pattern as perthe grid spacing for various levels of prospecting maysuffice.For deposits continuing further in depth drilling isrecommended. |
| II. Lenticular bodies of all dimensionsincluding bodies occurring en echelon, silicified linear zones ofcomposite veins. Lenses, pockets, stockworks; irregular shapedmodest to small sized bodiesIron and manganese ore bodiesin lateritoid terrain, pockety bauxite and nickel-cobaltlaterites, base metal sulphides of Cu-Pb-Zn- Sb-Hg, pediformchromite, auriferous quartz reefs, PGM, graphite lenses,molybdenum, tin bodies, pyrite, skarn bodies of scheelite,wollastonite, fluorite etc., vermiculite, magnesite,insitusilimanie and kyanite lenses etc. | Scout drilling, if necessary (In line with gridspecified by the Central Government from time to time) | Bore-hole spacing along strike may be kept 200-100mor closer interval | Bore-hole spacing along strike may be kept 100-50mor closer. In specific cases, depending on necessity, it may bebrought down to 25m or closer, especially for precious metals. | Bore-hole spacing along strike may be kept 50-25mor closer interval | Exploratory mine openings-open pit or undergroundwith bulk determination of grades wherever necessary at G2 and G1stage. |
| III. Gem-stones and rare metal pegmatites, reefsand veins/ pipes:Tin-tungsten-tantalum-niobium-molybdenumveins and pegmatites; Beryl, topaz, emerald deposits, diamond,wolframite deposits, pockets/ lenses/ veins of fluorite incarbonatites etc. | Scout drilling, if necessary (In line with gridspecified by the Central Government from time to time.) | 8 to 10 pits/trenches per sq. km. Bore-holes totest the continuity of host rock, at 200m or closer interval. | Trenching preferably at 50m. interval Bore-hole totest continuity of host rock at 100-50m or closer interval | Bore hole spacing may be kept closer to that of G2stage | Exploratory mine openings-open pit or undergroundwith bulk determination of grades & recovery wherevernecessary at G2 and G1 stage. |
| IV. Float or Placer deposits:Iron,manganese ore float; Placer tin and gold deposit; garnet,ilmenite, rutile, zircon; diamond, corundum, kyanite, sillimanitefloats. | Scout drilling, if necessary (In line with gridspecified by the Central Government from time to time) | 400m along trend of the deposit and 200m across | 200m* along trend of the deposit and 100m across | 100m* along the trend of the deposit and 50macross | For shallow deposits pitting in grid may suffice.Stream sediment or placer sediment sampling as may be required ateach stage. Laboratory scale separation and testing and analysisof concentrates. |