Minerals Development Act, 1940

Prospecting licences.

8.—(1) Every prospecting licence shall be granted upon such terms and conditions as the Minister thinks proper and specifies in such licence.

(2) On the granting of a prospecting licence, the licensee shall pay to the Minister such consideration therefor as the Minister, with the concurrence of the Minister for Finance, may determine.

(3) Every prospecting licence shall be expressed and shall operate to authorise the licensee, during the currency of such period as is specified in such licence and subject to the provisions of this Part of this Act, to enter on such land as may be similarly specified and there do all such things as the licensee considers necessary or desirable for the purpose of ascertaining the character, extent, or value of the minerals lying on or under such land, and in particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, for the purposes aforesaid to make borings, sink pits, remove water from old workings, and take and remove reasonable quantities of any such minerals for the purpose of analysis, test, trial or experiment.

(4) Every prospecting licence shall contain an indemnity clause whereby the licensee under such licence indemnifies the Minister against any claim or demand whatsoever in respect of the land or the minerals the subject of such licence or in any way arising out of the exercise by the licensee of any of the rights conferred on him by such licence.

(5) Every prospecting licence shall contain a clause requiring the licensee thereunder to exercise the rights conferred on him by such licence in such manner as not to interfere unnecessarily with the amenities of the locality in which are situate the land and minerals the subject of such licence.