Mines and Quarries Act, 1965

Meaning of “mine” and “quarry”.

3.—(1) In this Act “mine” means an excavation or system of excavations made for the purpose of, or in connection with, the getting, wholly or substantially by means involving the employment of persons below ground, of minerals (whether in their natural state or in solution or suspension) or products of minerals.

(2) In this Act “quarry” means an excavation or system of excavations made for the purpose of, or in connection with, the getting of minerals (whether in their natural state or in solution or suspension) or products of minerals, being neither a mine nor merely a well or bore-hole or a well and bore-hole combined.

(3) “Mine” and “quarry” include, respectively, any place on the surface surrounding or adjacent to the shafts of the mine or to the quarry occupied together with the mine or quarry for the storage or removal of the minerals or for the purposes of a process ancillary to the getting of minerals, including the breaking, crushing, grinding, screening, washing or dressing of such minerals but, subject thereto, does not include any place at which any manufacturing process is carried on.

(4) For the purposes of this Act, any place occupied by the owner of a mine or quarry and used for depositing refuse from it shall form part of the mine or quarry, but any place so used in connection with two or more mines or quarries, and occupied by the owner of one of them, or by the owners of any two or more in common, shall be deemed to form part of such one of those mines or quarries as the Minister may direct.

(5) For the purposes of this Act any line or siding (not being part of a railway) serving a mine or quarry shall form part of the mine or quarry, but, if serving two or more of them, shall be deemed to form part of such one of them as the Minister may direct.

(6) For the purposes of this Act a conveyor or aerial ropeway provided for the removal from a mine or quarry of minerals or refuse shall form part of the mine or quarry.