Solid Luck said:
I've tried a lazy bum search but cannot seem to find any info. If anyone has the info at hand it would be much appreciated. I want to know how many, if any buckets of really rich gold pay dirt I can retrieve and bring home with me in Vic. 20 Litre size.
Cheers
I'd be asking for clarification from Earth Resources on that before taking home multiple 20l buckets of material based on forum interpretation. That's even if they give you a straight answer? Probably more up to the Ranger on the day & what you've left behind in the way of holes etc.
Where your removing it from would also be a factor i.e. private land, crown land reserve, Parks Victoria areas etc. etc.
Most states have rules/laws in place over Crown Lands (& particularly Parks, State Forests etc.) about the removal of any materials (soil, wood, minerals etc.) from that land but do allow for mineral removal under permit (Miners Right, Fossicking Permit etc.). I'd be surprised if something to that affect didn't exist in Victoria especially seeing as though the Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 No. 92 of 1990 specifically talks about removal of minerals discovered from the land as per below.
Sure the legislation doesn't specify an actual limit but it also doesn't talk about taking material, other than minerals, away either.
It does say:
Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 No. 92 of 1990 said:
Part 5Other authorities
(2A) If the holder of a miner's right is validly on any land under this section, he or she may remove from the land any minerals discovered by him or her on the land.
That specifically talks about minerals only not pay dirt or any other material/s.
It also says:
Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 No. 92 of 1990 said:
Part 5Other authorities
58 Obligations of holder
(2) The holder of a miner's right must repair any damage to the land arising out of the search.
How would you repair the damage (dug hole) to the land after removing multiple 20l buckets of material away from the site?
Earth Resources also state:
To minimise impacts from fossicking activities:
Immediately restore the area to how you found it, i.e. backfill any holes you dig and replace leaf litter.
Again how would we comply with this if removing multiple 20l buckets of material?
My take on the Victorian legislation is that you can find & remove as much minerals, i.e. gold, as you want as long as you restore the area.
A more efficient way of doing things (& likely the only legal way) would be to process the material on site down to a bucket or less of concentrates to take home to clean up.
Leave the bulk unwanted material on site & use it to backfill your holes as required. No problems then?
P.S.
Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 No. 92 of 1990 said:
Definitions
mineral means any substance which occurs naturally as part of the earth's crust
(a) including
(i) oil shale and coal; and
(ii) hydrocarbons and mineral oils
contained in oil shale or coal or
extracted from oil shale or coal by
chemical or industrial processes;
and
(iii) any substance specified in
Schedule 4;
(b) excluding water, stone, peat or
petroleum;
Schedule 4Minerals
1. Bentonite.
2. Fine clay.
3. Kaolin.
4. Lignite.
5. Minerals in alluvial form including those of titanium, zirconium, rare earth elements and platinoid group elements.
* * * * *
7. Quartz crystals.
8. Zeolite.
