THE LAWS OF MINING

Husain jariwala
INTRODUCTION TO MINES
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the Earth,
usually from an ore body, lode, vein, seam, reef, or placer deposit. The exploitation of
these deposits for raw material is based on the economic viability of investing in the
equipment, labor, and energy required to extract, refine and transport the materials
found at the mine to manufacturers who can use the material.

Ores recovered by mining include metals, coal, oil shale, gemstones, limestone, chalk, dimension
stone, rock salt, potash, gravel, and clay. Mining is required to obtain most materials that cannot
be grown through agricultural processes, or feasibly created artificially in a laboratory or factory.
Mining in a wider sense includes extraction of any non-renewable resource such as petroleum,
natural gas, or even water. Modern mining processes involve prospecting for ore bodies, analysis
of the profit potential of a proposed mine, extraction of the desired materials, and final
reclamation or restoration of the land after the mine is closed.
 Aim of the project
the aim of my project is to understand how mining in india works. Its
rules and regulations, licence and permission required to set up a mine.
how mining can affect the economy of a country.
Why did I choose this topic
I chose this topic because I was eager to know about mining in india .
What are the laws and how many types of mines are there . What are
the different types of minerals you could get out of it
Mining pillars of the economy

Mining is an important activity for India. With 3527 mining leases for 40
major minerals, extending a total lease area of roughly 315,986 hectares,
India is a major producer of crucial minerals such as chromite, iron ore,
coal, and bauxite, among others. Mining contributes to 2.5 per cent of the
Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The total mineral production is valued at
1,299,500 million, and 18,963,480 million of mineral exports in 2020. The
mining sector plays a vital role in the national economy, employs more
than half a million persons, and contributes to the country's revenue
through exports, royalty (tax paid in return to the right to use), dead rent,
cess, sales tax, and duties.
Importance of mines
mining is an important economic activity in India. India is one of the largest exporters
of iron ore, chromite, bauxite, mica and manganese, and it is ranked fifth among the
mineral-producing countries in terms of volume of production.

Aside from supporting thousands of jobs, the mining industry provides raw materials,
minerals and metals critical to our economy.
Many of the mined goods are used for energy production and used as raw materials for
chemical industries which also let the mining industry control the growth of other
industries such as energy production industry, chemical industry, electrical industry,
electronics industry,
Life-saving medical devices would not exist without many of the metals and
minerals that are mined. There are even medicines that doctors and patients rely
on every day that would not be available. For example, minerals are crucial
materials to operate CAT scan devices.

Lithium is found in pacemakers, defibrillator machines and other portable

electronic equipment, while titanium is used in surgical pins, bone plates,
wires, rods, stent-electrodes and screws.
Types of mines
There are four main mining methods: underground, open surface (pit), placer, and in-situ
mining.

• Underground mines are more expensive and are often used to reach deeper deposits.
Underground mining is used to extract ore from below the surface of the earth safely,
economically and with as little waste as possible. The entry from the surface to an
underground mine may be through a horizontal or vertical tunnel, known as an adit, shaft or
decline.

• Surface mines are typically used for more shallow and less valuable deposits.
Surface mining is a form of mining in which the soil and the rock covering the mineral deposits are
removed. It is the other way of underground mining, in which the overlying rock is left behind, and the
required mineral deposits are removed through shafts or tunnels .
• Placer mining is used to sift out valuable metals from sediments in river channels, beach
sands, or other environments.Unlike hardrock mining, which extracts veins of precious
minerals from solid rock, placer mining is the practice of separating heavily eroded minerals
like gold from sand or gravel

• In-situ mining, which is primarily used in mining uranium, involves dissolving the mineral
resource in place then processing it at the surface without moving rock from the ground.
Basic equipement to set up a mine
10 Types of Heavy Equipment Used in Mining

1. Large Mining Trucks

To move materials around a mine site, workers need heavy-duty trucks. Also known as 
off-highway trucks, large mining trucks include both powerful mechanical models and
environmentally friendly electric drive models.

2. Hydraulic Mining Shovels

Sometimes called excavators, mining shovels used today grew out of the original steam shovel design
 used in years past. The models used now often employ hydraulics for moving the shovel to power
through tough materials.

3. Large Dozers
Large mining dozers move materials easily around a mining site. Plus, the choice of vehicles with
wheels or tracks increases the types of surfaces these dozers can operate on. 
4. Electric Rope Shovels
Instead of using hydraulics to control the movement of the shovel at the end of the arm, 
electric rope shovels use a series of pulleys and ropes. Unlike hydraulic shovels, these models use
electric operation, allowing for highly efficient performance over time.
5. Rotary Drill Rigs and Rock Drills
Rotary drill rigs create holes through rock or soil, allowing placement of charges for blasting open
mines. For a rotary drill rig, the drill bit turns under pressure to cut into the rock. As the bit turns, the
rock grinds down while compressed air sends it back up the drill to the top to keep the hole and bit
clean.
6. Motor Graders
Mines rarely have ready access to roads. Even those near major roadways still need roads built within
the area for moving material and hauling mined goods out. Motor graders are used for surface
operations around mines to create and maintain these roads.
7. Large Wheel Loaders
For picking up and quickly moving material across a mining site for loading into trucks, nothing
matches the versatility of large wheel loaders. 
8. Draglines
Draglines are large excavators with a bucket supported by ropes and wires at the end of a boom.
Lowering the bucket and scraping it along the ground collects overburden or mined material.
Swinging the bucket at the end of the dragline around repositions it to dump its contents into a
specified location.
9. Wheel Tractor Scrapers
Wheel tractor scrapers have a design similar to motor graders. However, the scrapers typically have
an attached bin that collects the material removed from the ground’s surface rather than pushing it
to the side as a grader does.

10. Underground Mining Loaders and Trucks

Underground mining trucks and loaders require specific operating parameters to function in confined
spaces. Additionally, these vehicles cannot produce emissions in the enclosed environment of a
mine. Therefore, standard trucks used for surface mining will not suffice for underground work
Major government companies involved in mining in india
Government Companies in Exploration and Production of Coal / Lignite

• Coal India Ltd: They are one of the largest coal producers in the world. Their main aim is to produce sufficient
quantity of coal to meet the demand without compromising on the quality.
• Neyveli Lignite Corporation: The Company is mainly into lignite mining and power generation. They are the main
supplier of sweet water from artesian aquifers to Chennai.
• IISCO:  The company mainly functions in steel production and its functioning is combined with the parent
company -Steel Authority of India.
The government of India has categorized Coal India Ltd, Neyveli Lignite Corporation etc as Maharatna companies.

Government Companies in Exploration of Metals

• NALCO:National Aluminum Company Ltd. is mainly into the mining of bauxite and produce high quality
aluminum. Their main aim is to become self sufficient in the industry to meet the demand of aluminium.
• Bharat Gold Mines Ltd: The company was primarily into gold mining and was functioning under the ministry of
mines. The gold mined by BGML was of world class quality and was also the largest producer of gold in Asia.
They stopped their functioning, as the coal mines got exhausted due to continuous mining.
• Hindustan Zinc Ltd: The organization is mainly into the business of Zinc, Sulphuric acid and lead.Hindustan
Government Companies in Iron Ore Sector

• National Mineral Development Corporation: They function under the ministry of steel and are mainly involved
in the production of various minerals like iron, graphite, copper etc.

• Steel Authority of India Ltd: It is considered as one of the largest steel producing company in the world and is
categorized as a Maharatna Company.

• MOIL: is a miniratna state-owned manganese ore mining company headquartered in Nagpur, India. With a
market share of 50%, it is the largest producer of manganese ore in India. MOIL operates 11 mines in adjoining
districts of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
Government Companies in Copper and Rock Mining

• Hindustan Copper Ltd: are mainly into smelting, mining, refining etc and also engaged in copper production
that is vertically integrated.

• Rajasthan State Mines and Minerals Ltd: functions under the Rajasthan Government and are mainly into the
production as well as marketing of non metallic minerals.

• Andhra Pradesh Mining Development Corporation: they function under the Andhra Pradesh government and
are into the exploration and development of Mineral resources.
Main mining regions in india

India’s mining wealth is concentrated in Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan,

Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh and Karnataka. Iron ore reserves
are predominantly found in Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra,
Goa and Karnataka. Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh
and Karnataka are major areas for manganese reserves. Copper reserves
are available in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Jharkhand. Zinc reserves
are predominantly found in Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh,
Bihar and Maharashtra. Chromite ore reserves are available in Odisha,
Manipur, Nagaland, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and
Andhra Pradesh.
 Facts about mines
1. Australia has the largest crude iron ore reserves in the world
Australia holds the largest reserves of crude iron ore in the world, according to a 2021 report by Statista. Home to a whopping
50 billion metric ton of the steel-making stuff, Australia makes up half of the world’s total iron ore exports, shipping
predominantly to China, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Indonesia and India

2. Copper was one of the first metals to be unearthed

Considered a commodity of the future due to its important role in renewable energy systems, copper is certainly no new kid on
the block. A copper pendant discovered in what is now northern Iraq has been dated back to 8,700 BC, leading scientists to
believe it is one of the first metals to be unearthed. 

3. The world’s largest open-pit mine is in Utah, USA

Located near Salt Lake City in Utah, USA, the Bingham Canyon Mine is the world’s deepest man-made open-pit excavation site.
Spanning an immense 4.5km wide and 1.2km deep, the mine is so large it can be seen from outer space.

4. Pure gold can be molded with the hands

Did you know that pure gold is so soft it can be molded with the hands? Otherwise known as 24 carat gold, 100 per cent pure
gold will not oxidize, rust, tarnish, corrode, decay or deteriorate.
COAL MINING IN INDIA: THE PAST

India has a long history of commercial coal mining covering nearly 220 years starting from 1774 by
M/s Sumner and Heatly of East India Company in the Raniganj Coalfield along the Western bank of
river Damodar. However, for about a century the growth of Indian coal mining remained sluggish for
want of demand but the introduction of steam locomotives in 1853 gave a flip to it. Within a short
span, production rose to an annual average of 1 million tonne (mt) and India could produce 6.12 mts.
per year by 1900 and 18 mts per year by 1920. The production got a sudden boost from the First
World War but went through a slump in the early thirties. The production reached a level of 29 mts. by
1942 and 30 mts. by 1946.

With the advent of Independence, the country embarked upon the 5-year development plans. At the
beginning of the 1st Plan, annual production went upto 33 mts. During the 1st Plan period itself, the
need for increasing coal production efficiently by systematic and scientific development of the coal
industry was being felt. Setting up of the National Coal Development Corporation (NCDC), a
Government of India Undertaking in 1956 with the collieries owned by the railways as its nucleus was
the first major step towards planned development of Indian Coal Industry. Along with the Singareni
Collieries Company Ltd. (SCCL) which was already in operation since 1945 and which became a
Government company under the control of Government of Andhra Pradesh in 1956, India thus had
two Government coal companies in the fifties. SCCL is now a joint undertaking of Government of
Andhra Pradesh and Government of India sharing its equity in 51:49 ratio.
 Laws of mining

Mining is not a new phenomenon; neither the need for law regulating mining is new. There
has been laws guiding and regulating mining activities since 19 th century. The first proposal
for regulation of mining in India came in 1890, which was introduced by Lord Cross, who at
that time was the Secretary of State of India, later in 1894 for the first time Inspector of
Mines was appointed for the purpose of management and supervision.
In the year 1901, first Mine Act enacted in India which was only applicable to the mines
situated in British India, which was accompanied with establishment of “Bureau of Mines
Inspection” in Kolkata. Since then Mine Act has been re-enacted in 1923, 1928 and 1935.
In the year 1952, Mine Act was now applicable throughout India. Since then the Mine Act
has been guiding and regulating the mining activity in India, through the act is open to
necessary amendment and it has been amended from time to time. It has also been
witnessed that every state is guided by different state mining laws, as every state differs
from one another.
There are many laws of mining few of whih are:
few of mining regulations are
• Mineral Conservation and Development Rules, 2017
• Mines & Minerals (Development & Regulation) Act, 1957 (As amended up to 27th March,
2015)
• Minerals (Other than Atomic and Hydro Carbons Energy Minerals) Concession Rules, 2016
( as amended up to 8th December 2016)
• Minerals (Other than Atomic and Hydro Carbons Energy Minerals) Concession Rules, 2016
• National Mineral Exploration Trust Rules, 2015
• Mines & Minerals (Contribution to District Mineral Foundation) Rules, 2015
• Minerals (Evidence of Mineral Contents) Rules, 2015
• Mineral (Auction) Rules, 2015
• National Mineral Policy
• Mines & Minerals(Development & Regulation) Act,1957 (As amended up to 10th May, 2012)
• Mineral Conservation & Development Rules,1988(As amended up to 2nd August, 2011) )
• Mineral Concession Rules, 1960 (As amended up to 26th July, 2012)
• Offshore Mineral Concession Rules -2006