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Core Purpose

The Ministry of Mines introduces the Minerals (Evidence of Mineral Contents) Amendment Rules, 2025, to substitute specific entries in Schedule-I, Part-III, Table, of the Minerals (Evidence of Mineral Contents) Rules, 2015, regarding exploration stages for various mineral deposits.

Detailed Summary

The Ministry of Mines, through Notification G.S.R. 382(E) dated June 12, 2025, has promulgated the Minerals (Evidence of Mineral Contents) Amendment Rules, 2025. These rules, made in exercise of powers conferred by section 13 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957), come into force on their publication in the Official Gazette. The primary amendment involves the substitution of serial number III and its related entries in Schedule-I, Part-III, in the Table, of the Minerals (Evidence of Mineral Contents) Rules, 2015. The new entries, designated as III, IIIA, and IIIB, detail the requirements for different exploration stages (G4, G3, G2, G1) for specific mineral deposits. Entry III now covers "Gem-stones" such as Beryl, topaz, emerald deposits, diamond, and fluorite pockets/lenses/veins in carbonatite. Entry IIIA addresses "Rare metal and Rare Earth Elements (REE)" occurring in pegmatites, reefs, and veins/pipes. Entry IIIB further categorizes "Rare metal and Rare Earth Elements (REE)" occurring in carbonatite and other alkali igneous rocks, distinguishing between (i) Tabular deposits and (ii) Lenticular deposits in the form of veins/lenses, each with specified drilling, pitting, trenching, and borehole spacing requirements for different exploration stages. The principal rules, G.S.R. 304(E), were initially published on April 17, 2015, and last amended by G.S.R. 52(E) on January 21, 2024.

Full Text

REGD. No. D. L.-33004/99 The Gazette of India CG-DL-E-13062025-263773 EXTRAORDINARY PART II-Section 3-Sub-section (i) PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY No. 339] NEW DELHI, THURSDAY, JUNE 12, 2025/JYAISTHA 22, 1947 MINISTRY OF MINES NOTIFICATION New Delhi, the 12th June, 2025 G.S.R. 382(E). In exercise of the powers conferred by section 13 of the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (67 of 1957), the Central Government hereby makes the following rules further to amend the Minerals (Evidence of Mineral Contents) Rules, 2015, namely:- 1. Short title and commencement.— (1) These rules may be called the Minerals (Evidence of Mineral Contents) Amendment Rules, 2025. (2) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette. 2. In the Minerals (Evidence of Mineral Contents) Rules, 2015, in Schedule-I, in Part-III, in the Table, for serial number III and the entries relating thereto, the following serial numbers and entries shall be substituted, namely:- +----------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | Type of deposit and | G4 stage | G3 stage | G2 stage | G1 stage | Remarks | | principal minerals | | | | | | +====================================================+=================================================================================================+===============================================================================================+==============================================================================================+============================================================================+================================================================================================================================================================================+ | "III. Gem-stones: | Scout drilling, if | 8 to 10 pits/ | Trenching | Borehole | Exploratory mine | | Beryl, topaz, | necessary (in line | trenches | preferably at | spacing may | openings-open pit or | | emerald deposits, | with grid specified | per sq.km. | 50m. interval | be kept closer | underground with bulk | | diamond, pockets/ | by the Central | Boreholes to | Borehole to | to that of G2 | determination of grades | | lenses/ veins of | Government from | test the | test continuity | stage. | and recovery wherever | | fluorite in | time to time). | continuity of | of host rock | | necessary at G2 and G1 | | carbonatite, etc. | | host rock, at | at 100-50m. | | stage. | | | | 200m. or | or | | | | | | closer | closer | | | | | | interval. | interval. | | | +----------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | IIIA. Rare metal | Scout | 10 to 25 pits/ | Pitting/ | Exploratory | | | and | drilling/ | trenches per | Trenching/ | open | | | Rare Earth | random | sq. km. | preferably at | pit or | | | Elements (REE) | pitting/ | | 20m. | boreholes at | | | occurring in | trenching | In case of | interval. | 10m. x 10m. | | | pegmatites, | as per | drilling, | In case of | or | | | reefs and | necessity | borehole | drilling, | closer or | | | veins/ pipes. | | spacing may | borehole | underground | | | | | be 40m. x | spacing may | sampling | | | | | 20m. or 40m. | be 20m. x | with bulk | | | | | x 40m. | 10m. or 20m. | determination | | | | | | x 20m. | of grades and | | | | | | | recovery | | | | | | | wherever | | | | | | | necessary. | | +----------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | IIIB. Rare metal | | | | | | | and | | | | | | | Rare Earth | | | | | | | Elements (REE) | | | | | | | occurring in | | | | | | | carbonatite and | | | | | | | other | | | | | | | alkali igneous | | | | | | | rocks: | | | | | | +----------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | (i) Tabular Rare | Scout drilling/ | Borehole | Borehole | Borehole | | | metal and Rare | random pitting/ | grid/ sample | grid/ | grid/ | | | Earth Elements | trenching as per | spacing | sample | sample | | | (REE) deposits. | necessity | may be 400m | spacing may | spacing | | | | | x 200m or | be 200m x | may be 100m | | | | | closer | 100m or | x 100m or | | | | | | closer | closer | | +----------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ | (ii) Lenticular Rare | Scout drilling/ | Borehole/ | Borehole/ | Borehole / | | | metal and Rare | random pitting/ | Sample | sample | sample | | | Earth Elements | trenching as per | spacing may | spacing may | spacing | | | (REE) deposits in | necessity | be 200m x | be 100m x | may be 100m | | | the form of | | 200m or | 100m or | x 50m or | | | veins / lenses. | | closer | closer | closer.". | | +----------------------------------------------------+-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+----------------------------------------------------------------------------+--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ [F. No. 16/62/2020-M.VI] DINESH MAHUR, Jt. Secy. Note:— The principal rules were published in the Gazette of India, Part II, Section 3, Sub-section (i) vide number G.S.R. 304(E), dated the 17th April, 2015 and lastly amended vide number G.S.R. 52(E), dated the 21st January, 2024.

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