Exploration Permitting Guide

Government Authority:

Coal and Mineral Development unit

Regulations:

Metallic and Industrial Minerals Tenure Regulation

Relevant Application Links:

Mineral Exploration Rights: Rock-hosted Minerals Permits (equivalent to a mineral claim)

Grassroots Exploration

Grassroots exploration consists of activities such as surveying and rock, soil, and water sampling with hand tools, resulting in no or minimal physical disturbance.

Grassroots Exploration is permitted once the claim acquisition process is complete. No additional approvals are required.

Mechanized Exploration

Mechanized exploration can include line cutting, excavation of small, shallow pits and trenches, and construction of drill pads and access trails. Mechanized exploration may result in limited, often temporary, land disturbances. This guide does not include Advanced Exploration, such as bulk sampling.

Government Authority:

Alberta Energy Regulator

Regulations:

Responsible Energy and Development Act

Metallic and Industrial Minerals Exploration Regulation

Relevant Application Links:

Approval to Explore – contact [email protected]

Prospector’s License

A Prospectors License (or equivalent), where required, is an authorization issued by the governing authority which permits an individual to conduct certain exploration work independently or on behalf of an organization.

Government Authority:

Mineral Titles Branch

Regulations:

Mineral Tenure Act

Relevant Application Links:

Free Miner Certificate

Claim Acquisition

Claim acquisition (or staking, or equivalent) is the process through which a mineral explorer obtains certain rights to develop and extract minerals from the claim area.

Government Authority:

Mineral Titles Branch

Regulations:

Mineral Tenure Act

Relevant Application Links:

Mineral Titles Online

Grassroots Exploration

Grassroots exploration consists of activities such as surveying and rock, soil, and water sampling with hand tools, resulting in no or minimal physical disturbance.

Grassroots Exploration is permitted once the claim acquisition process is complete. No additional approvals are required.

Mechanized Exploration

Mechanized exploration can include line cutting, excavation of small, shallow pits and trenches, and construction of drill pads and access trails. Mechanized exploration may result in limited, often temporary, land disturbances. This guide does not include Advanced Exploration, such as bulk sampling.

Government Authority:

The Ministry of Energy, Mines and Low Carbon Innovation

Regulations:

Mines Act

Relevant Application Links:

MineSpace

Prospector’s License

A Prospectors License (or equivalent), where required, is an authorization issued by the governing authority which permits an individual to conduct certain exploration work independently or on behalf of an organization.

Government Authority:

Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources

Regulations:

The Mines and Minerals Act

Relevant Application Links:

iMaQs Mining Map

Prospecting License Guide

Claim Acquisition

Claim acquisition (or staking, or equivalent) is the process through which a mineral explorer obtains certain rights to develop and extract minerals from the claim area.

Government Authority:

Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources

Regulations:

The Mines and Minerals Act

Mineral Disposition and Mineral Lease Regulation

Relevant Application Links:

Staking Requirements Online for surveyed territories using iMaQs 

Physically staked and recorded for unsurveyed territory, applications for recording submitted via iMaQs

Grassroots Exploration

Grassroots exploration consists of activities such as surveying and rock, soil, and water sampling with hand tools, resulting in no or minimal physical disturbance.

Grassroots Exploration is permitted once the claim acquisition process is complete. No additional approvals are required.

Airborne Surveys

Airborne surveys require additional notice.

Mechanized Exploration

Mechanized exploration can include line cutting, excavation of small, shallow pits and trenches, and construction of drill pads and access trails. Mechanized exploration may result in limited, often temporary, land disturbances. This guide does not include Advanced Exploration, such as bulk sampling.

Government Authority:

Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources

Mine Manitoba

Regulations:

The Mines and Minerals Act

Relevant Application Links:

Exploration Licenses

Prospector’s License

A Prospectors License (or equivalent), where required, is an authorization issued by the governing authority which permits an individual to conduct certain exploration work independently or on behalf of an organization.

Government Authority:

Natural Resources and Energy Development

Regulations:

Mining Act

Relevant Application Links:

Prospecting License

Claim Acquisition

Claim acquisition (or staking, or equivalent) is the process through which a mineral explorer obtains certain rights to develop and extract minerals from the claim area.

Government Authority:

Natural Resources and Energy Development

Regulations:

Mining Act

Relevant Application Links:

Mineral Claim Acquisition

Grassroots Exploration

Grassroots exploration consists of activities such as surveying and rock, soil, and water sampling with hand tools, resulting in no or minimal physical disturbance.

Government Authority:

Natural Resources and Energy Development – Office of the Recorder

Regulations:

Mining Act

Relevant Application Links:

Notice of Planned Work

Guide to Notice of Planned Work

Mechanized Exploration

Mechanized exploration can include line cutting, excavation of small, shallow pits and trenches, and construction of drill pads and access trails. Mechanized exploration may result in limited, often temporary, land disturbances. This guide does not include Advanced Exploration, such as bulk sampling.

Government Authority:

Natural Resources and Energy Development – Office of the Recorder

Regulations:

Mining Act

Relevant Application Links:

Notice of Planned Work

Guide to Notice of Planned Work

Prospector’s License

A Prospectors License (or equivalent), where required, is an authorization issued by the governing authority which permits an individual to conduct certain exploration work independently or on behalf of an organization.

Government Authority:

Department of Industry, Energy and Technology Mineral Lands Division

Regulations:

Mineral Regulations

Relevant Application Links:

Genuine Prospector (optional)

Claim Acquisition

Claim acquisition (or staking, or equivalent) is the process through which a mineral explorer obtains certain rights to develop and extract minerals from the claim area.

Government Authority:

Department of Industry, Energy and Technology Mineral Lands Division

Regulations:

Mineral Act

Mineral Regulations

Mineral Exploration Standards Regulations

Relevant Application Links:

Mineral License (MinLAP)

Grassroots Exploration

Grassroots exploration consists of activities such as surveying and rock, soil, and water sampling with hand tools, resulting in no or minimal physical disturbance.

Government Authority:

Department of Industry, Energy and Technology Mineral Lands Division

Regulations:

Mineral Act

Mineral Regulations

Mineral Exploration Standards Regulations

Relevant Application Links:

Letter of Acceptance

Work Plan Approval (if within Inuit Lands)

Mechanized Exploration

Mechanized exploration can include line cutting, excavation of small, shallow pits and trenches, and construction of drill pads and access trails. Mechanized exploration may result in limited, often temporary, land disturbances. This guide does not include Advanced Exploration, such as bulk sampling.

Government Authority:

Department of Industry, Energy and Technology Mineral Lands Division

Regulations:

Mineral Act

Mineral Regulations

Mineral Exploration Standards Regulations

Relevant Application Links:

Exploration Approval

Work Plan Approval (if within Inuit Lands)

Prospector’s License

A Prospectors License (or equivalent), where required, is an authorization issued by the governing authority which permits an individual to conduct certain exploration work independently or on behalf of an organization.

Government Authority:

Department of Natural Resources

Regulations:

Mineral Resources Act

Relevant Application Links:

Prospector Registration

Claim Acquisition

Claim acquisition (or staking, or equivalent) is the process through which a mineral explorer obtains certain rights to develop and extract minerals from the claim area.

Government Authority:

Department of Natural Resources

Regulations:

Mineral Resources Act

Relevant Application Links:

Mineral Exploration: License

Grassroots Exploration

Grassroots exploration consists of activities such as surveying and rock, soil, and water sampling with hand tools, resulting in no or minimal physical disturbance.

Grassroots Exploration is permitted once the claim acquisition process is complete. No additional approvals are required.

Mechanized Exploration

Mechanized exploration can include line cutting, excavation of small, shallow pits and trenches, and construction of drill pads and access trails. Mechanized exploration may result in limited, often temporary, land disturbances. This guide does not include Advanced Exploration, such as bulk sampling.

Government Authority:

Department of Natural Resources

Regulations:

Mineral Resources Act

Relevant Application Links:

Drilling Notification

Excavation Registration

Prospector’s License

A Prospectors License (or equivalent), where required, is an authorization issued by the governing authority which permits an individual to conduct certain exploration work independently or on behalf of an organization.

Government Authority:

Mining Recorder’s Office

Regulations:

Nunavut Mining Regulations

Relevant Application Links:

Prospector’s License

Claim Acquisition

Claim acquisition (or staking, or equivalent) is the process through which a mineral explorer obtains certain rights to develop and extract minerals from the claim area.

Government Authority:

Mining Recorder’s Office

Regulations:

Nunavut Mining Regulations

Relevant Application Links:

Nunavut Map Selection System

Grassroots Exploration

Grassroots exploration consists of activities such as surveying and rock, soil, and water sampling with hand tools, resulting in no or minimal physical disturbance.

Grassroots Exploration is permitted once the claim acquisition process is complete. No additional approvals are required.

Mechanized Exploration

Mechanized exploration can include line cutting, excavation of small, shallow pits and trenches, and construction of drill pads and access trails. Mechanized exploration may result in limited, often temporary, land disturbances. This guide does not include Advanced Exploration, such as bulk sampling.

Stage 1 – Conformity by NPC

Government Authority:

Nunavut Planning Commission

Regulations:

 Nunavut Planning and Project Assessment Act

Relevant Application Links:

Land Use Permit

Stage 2 – CIRNAC Land Use Permit

Government Authority:

Mining Recorder’s Office

Regulations:

Nunavut Mining Regulations

Relevant Application Links:

Land Use Application

Additional Resources:

Guide to Exploration

Prospector’s License

A Prospectors License (or equivalent), where required, is an authorization issued by the governing authority which permits an individual to conduct certain exploration work independently or on behalf of an organization.

Government Authority:

Mining Recorder’s Office

Regulations:

Mining Regulations

Relevant Application Links:

Prospector’s License

Claim Acquisition

Claim acquisition (or staking, or equivalent) is the process through which a mineral explorer obtains certain rights to develop and extract minerals from the claim area.

Government Authority:

Mining Recorder’s Office

Regulations:

Mining Regulations

Relevant Application Links:

Claims must be physically staked.

Prospecting Permit

Record Mineral Claims

Grassroots Exploration

Grassroots exploration consists of activities such as surveying and rock, soil, and water sampling with hand tools, resulting in no or minimal physical disturbance.

Grassroots Exploration is permitted once the claim acquisition process is complete. No additional approvals are required.

Mechanized Exploration

Mechanized exploration can include line cutting, excavation of small, shallow pits and trenches, and construction of drill pads and access trails. Mechanized exploration may result in limited, often temporary, land disturbances. This guide does not include Advanced Exploration, such as bulk sampling.

Government Authority:

Mackenzie Valley Land and Water Board

Regulations:

Mackenzie Valley Resource Management Act Mackenzie Valley Land Use Regulations

Relevant Application Links:

Land Use Permit

Water Use Permit

Additional Resources:

For additional help navigating NWT Permitting processes, contact the CSCR.

Prospector’s License

A Prospectors License (or equivalent), where required, is an authorization issued by the governing authority which permits an individual to conduct certain exploration work independently or on behalf of an organization.

Government Authority:

Ministry of Mines

Regulations:

Mining Act

Relevant Application Links:

Prospector’s License

Claim Acquisition

Claim acquisition (or staking, or equivalent) is the process through which a mineral explorer obtains certain rights to develop and extract minerals from the claim area.

Government Authority:

Ministry of Mines

Regulations:

Mining Act

Relevant Application Links:

Mining Lands Administration System (MLAS)

Grassroots Exploration

Grassroots exploration consists of activities such as surveying and rock, soil, and water sampling with hand tools, resulting in no or minimal physical disturbance.

Grassroots Exploration is permitted once the claim acquisition process is complete. No additional approvals are required.

Mechanized Exploration

Mechanized exploration can include line cutting, excavation of small, shallow pits and trenches, and construction of drill pads and access trails. Mechanized exploration may result in limited, often temporary, land disturbances. This guide does not include Advanced Exploration, such as bulk sampling.

Government Authority:

Ministry of Mines

Regulations:

Mining Act

Relevant Application Links:

Administration System (MLAS)

Mineral exploration forms

Exploration Approvals

For all stages of exploration and development related to mineral exploration in Prince Edward Island.

Government Authority:

Department of Environment, Energy and Climate Action

PEI Energy Corporation

Regulations:

Mineral Resources Act

To Apply:

Interested individuals are advised to contact the PEI Energy Corporation at 902-894-0288.

Claim Acquisition

Claim acquisition (or staking, or equivalent) is the process through which a mineral explorer obtains certain rights to develop and extract minerals from the claim area.

Government Authority:

Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts

Regulations:

Mining Act

Regulation respecting mineral substances other than petroleum, natural gas and brine

Notice of Coming Into Force (2024 updated regulations)

Relevant Application Links:

GESTIMPlus

Grassroots Exploration

Grassroots exploration consists of activities such as surveying and rock, soil, and water sampling with hand tools, resulting in no or minimal physical disturbance.

Grassroots Exploration is permitted once the claim acquisition process is complete. No additional approvals are required.

Mechanized Exploration

Mechanized exploration can include line cutting, excavation of small, shallow pits and trenches, and construction of drill pads and access trails. Mechanized exploration may result in limited, often temporary, land disturbances. This guide does not include Advanced Exploration, such as bulk sampling.

Government Authority:

Ministère des Ressources naturelles et des Forêts

Regulations:

Mining Act

Regulation respecting mineral substances other than petroleum, natural gas and brine

Notice of Coming Into Force (2024 updated regulations)

Relevant Application Links:

Authorization for impact-causing exploration work

Claim Acquisition

Claim acquisition (or staking, or equivalent) is the process through which a mineral explorer obtains certain rights to develop and extract minerals from the claim area.

Government Authority:

Lands and Mineral Tenure Branch, Ministry of Energy and Resources

Regulations:

Mineral Tenure Registry Regulations

Subsurface Mineral Regulations

Relevant Application Links:

Mineral Administration Registry Saskatchewan (MARS)

Grassroots Exploration

Grassroots exploration consists of activities such as surveying and rock, soil, and water sampling with hand tools, resulting in no or minimal physical disturbance.

Government Authority:

Lands Management and Permitting, Ministry of Environment

Regulations:

Provincial Lands Act

Relevant Application Links:

Surface Disturbance Permits (outlined in the Mineral Exploration Guidelines)

Mechanized Exploration

Mechanized exploration can include line cutting, excavation of small, shallow pits and trenches, and construction of drill pads and access trails. Mechanized exploration may result in limited, often temporary, land disturbances. This guide does not include Advanced Exploration, such as bulk sampling.

Government Authority:

Lands Management and Permitting, Ministry of Environment

Regulations:

Provincial Lands Act

Relevant Application Links:

Surface Disturbance Permits (outlined in the Mineral Exploration Guidelines)

Claim Acquisition

Claim acquisition (or staking, or equivalent) is the process through which a mineral explorer obtains certain rights to develop and extract minerals from the claim area. 

Government Authority:

Mining Recorder’s Office

Regulations:

Quartz Mining Act

Placer Mining Act

Relevant Application Links:

Claims must be physically staked.

Quartz Claim Staking Process

Placer Claim Staking Process

Grassroots Exploration

Grassroots exploration consists of activities such as surveying and rock, soil, and water sampling with hand tools, resulting in no or minimal physical disturbance.

Government Authority:

Mining Recorder’s Office

Regulations:

Quartz Mining Act (below bedrock)

Placer Mining Act (above bedrock)

Relevant Application Links:

Requires a Class 1 Notification

Additional Resources:

Mining in the Yukon - Guide

Mechanized Exploration

Mechanized exploration can include line cutting, excavation of small, shallow pits and trenches, and construction of drill pads and access trails. Mechanized exploration may result in limited, often temporary, land disturbances. This guide does not include Advanced Exploration, such as bulk sampling.

Government Authority:

Mining Recorder’s Office

Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board

Regulations:

Quartz Mining Act

Placer Mining Act

Relevant Application Links:

There are 4 classes that operation activities fall into under the Placer or Quartz Mining Land Use Regulations. There are thresholds that determine which class a placer or quartz mining operation falls under.

Prospecting Lease

Exploration Notice

Additional Resources:

Mining in the Yukon - Guide