Module 2 Overview

Module 2 Overview

We learned a lot… actually, I hope you’ve learned a lot about the importance of minerals and the need for mining in Module 1. We now have a much better understanding of where we mine and why we mine. We have learned about the complexity of conducting a mining operation in a societal context. The study of this has allowed us to gain not only an appreciation for the complexity of operation in today’s world, but it has also given us a reason to learn more about the major stakeholders. We will draw on much of this recently acquired knowledge throughout this course.

So, we know a lot the importance of minerals in modern society, we better understand how ubiquitous mining is in the national and global economies, and we know about the important stakeholders. Suppose we want to mine one of those 85+ minerals found in economic quantities within the U.S. How do you go about opening and operating a mine? We’ll first address this topic in Lesson 2.1, where we will examine the life cycle of a mine. In Lessons 2.2 and 2.3, we’ll look at the body of laws that apply to particular parts or throughout the life cycle of the mine. Equipped with this knowledge, as well as that of Module 1, we will then devote the remainder of the course to the specific details of surface and underground mining.

Learning Outcomes

At the successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

• describe each of the five stages in the life of a mine;
• explain the difference between an Act (law) and a Regulation;
• explain the purpose of the Code of Federal Regulations, and Title 30, Volume I, Chapter I of the Code of Federal Regulations;
• list and describe the five major categories of mining law that govern everything from access to minerals, how we mine, to how we leave the site when we have finished mining;
• cite specific examples of laws that the mining engineer will encounter within the aforementioned categories;
• describe the differences in the acquisition of rights to prospect, explore, and mine on public and private lands;
• describe the General Mining Law of 1872, and specifically explain:
  • the stated purpose of the Law,
  • a mining claim, and the difference between a lode and a placer,
  • what is meant by locatable minerals, and the types of minerals that qualified under the Law,
  • the difference between a patented and unpatented claim;
• explain the motivation behind the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, and the change that this Act made to the Mining Law of 1872;
• explain the effect of three other major amendments to the Law of 1872, made in 1954, 1955, and 1976;
• explain why the Law of 1872 remains controversial to this day.