The Minerals (Evidence of Mineral Contents) Amendment Rules, 2021
The Ministry of Mines on June 18, 2021 has issued the Minerals (Evidence of Mineral Contents) Amendment Rules, 2021 to further amend the Minerals (Evidence of Mineral Contents) Rules, 2015. The amendment in the Minerals (Evidence of Mineral Contents) Rules, 2015 are as follow: The word “Schedule” in the Minerals (Evidence of Mineral Contents) Rules, 2015 shall be substituted with “Schedule-I”. Rule 3 (b) & Rule 3(d) which specifies ‘conforming’ and ‘evidence of mineral contents’ shall be substituted.. Rule 4 which specifies “Determining existence of mineral contents under sub-clause (i) of clause (b) of sub-section (2) of section 10A of the Act” shall be omitted. Rule 5 which specifies Existence of mineral contents “for grant of mining lease under clause (a) of sub-section (2) of section 5 and for auction of mining lease under sub-section (3) of section 10B and sub-section (2) of section 11 of the Act, has been inserted.. Rule 5, the proviso has been inserted: - Provided that detailed reassessment of resources shall not be required to be carried out in cases where the estimate of Mineral Resource required for auction can be assessed on the basis of the available report of exploration or geological study report or last approved mining plan for the said area, after adjusting for the mineral already produced from the mine.” In Rule 7 which specifies “Existence of mineral contents for grant of composite licence”, the following changes are made: - Rule 7 (1) (a) “(a) at least Reconnaissance Survey (G4) has been completed to estimate Reconnaissance Mineral Resource (334) or mineral potentiality of the block has been identified based on the available geoscience data, but resources are yet to be established, has been substituted. Rule 7 (2) On completion of prospecting operations under sub-section (10) of section 11 of the Act, Geological Study Report shall be prepared in accordance with the parameters specified in rule 5, which shall include at least a Pre-Feasibility Study Report to establish Probable Mineral Reserve (121 and 122) conforming to Part V of Schedule-I.”, has been substituted.
