Mining Cadastre Specification PDF

# DEFINITIONS, BEACON DESCRIPTIONS AND OTHER EXPLANATIONS ## 1.0 Introduction Minesfield Surveys are conducted to determine the legal extent of a Mining Lease (ML), Exclusive Prospecting License (E.P. L), Mining Right (M. R.), Water License (W.L.), Mining Reclamation Area (M.R.A). The specificatio...

# DEFINITIONS, BEACON DESCRIPTIONS AND OTHER EXPLANATIONS ## 1.0 Introduction Minesfield Surveys are conducted to determine the legal extent of a Mining Lease (ML), Exclusive Prospecting License (E.P. L), Mining Right (M. R.), Water License (W.L.), Mining Reclamation Area (M.R.A). The specifications for these Surveys are as presented hereunder. Definitions and illustrative figures are attached. ## 2.0 DEMARCATION OF BOUNDARIES ### 2.1 Mining Titles #### a. Beacon Casting - Mining beacons shall be mushroom shaped and made of concrete. - The upper portion shall have a diameter of 25cm and project 15cm above the ground. It shall have a smooth upper surface with a hole 5cm in the centre (fig. 1 and 2) - The underground portion shall be 15cm in diameter at the base, sunk to a depth of 20cm. (fig. 1) - The number of the mining title and corner beacon numbers are to be marked on the top of the beacon with directional arrows to indicate the course of the boundary (fig. 2). - LB (Location Beacon) is to be marked on the beacon that is the initial temporary reference point when "pegging" an area on the ground for site plan production or when prospecting. - LM (Location Mark) is to be marked in the place of LB when carrying out the final Survey of the mining application. - C. B. - (Corner Beacon) is to be marked consecutively (CB1, CB2 etc.) on beacons emplaced at other corners of the mining title (other than LM/LB). - U.B./L.B. - (Upper/Lower Beacon) are to be marked on beacons demarcating Mining Rights (fig. 3 and 4). - Line Beacons are to be emplaced on long lines to enable direction to the next beacon. - Positions of line beacons are plotted from distances along the boundary line. ### 2.2 Mining Rights of Occupancy (MR of O) and Mines Reclamation Areas (MRA) Property Beacons shall be used to demarcate these titles. If a property beacon coincides with a mining title corner beacon, an extra large mining beacon is to be emplaced round the property beacon as shown in fig. 5 and fig. 6. #### 2.2.1 Mining Lease (ML) and Exclusive Prospecting License (EPL). As described in 2.1b (ii) – (iv) above. #### 2.2.2 Mining Rights (M.R.) The U. B. and L.B. are to be emplaced near the upper (highest) and lower (lowest) ends of the stream on the ground that is not susceptible to flood (fig. 3). Total width including stream/river is not to be more than 30m.  (fig. 4) ## 3.0 CONNECTIONS: The following methods may be used depending on the availability of trig stations/horizontal controls. ### 3.1 Traversing Horizontal Controls: A trig station/horizontal control close to the title may be included in the boundary traverse. The traverse shall be closed between the datum beacons to the accuracy laid down in Regulation 3.2 of the Cadastral Survey Regulations. On long traverse connections, the traverse may be unclosed but in such case the traverse lengths shall be determined by two independent measurements using recently- standardized equipment which shall be again standardized on completion of the survey and the mean standardisation corrections used in determining the traverse lengths and in addition, the bearings of the connection traverse shall be closed on an azimuth determined by one of the methods. ### 3.2 Resection When the connection is by resection, angles shall be taken to at least four favourably-situated government triangulation stations and shall be measured on two zeros, each comprising one full round as prescribed in Regulation 3.15. Where 3 or more trig stations are visible from the area, a resection may be observed (on two rounds) and computed by Collin's Point Method. ### 3.3 Solution of a Triangle - Where only one trig station is visible, azimuth is to be observed to it (T). - A base from LM is to be set out to a point B and the distance double measured. - Two base angles of the triangle (T, LM, B) are to be observed on two zeros. - The triangle is to be solved to obtain the distance form trig. T to the location mark (LM). ## 4.0 SURVEYING OF BOUNDARIES ### 4.1 Mining Lease (ML) and Exclusive Prospecting License (E.P.L.). #### 4.1.1 Methods of Survey. This is to be carried out by a closed theodolite traverse, while in broken country, triangulation or trilateration may be used. GPS and EDM may also be used for these surveys. The Linear closing error shall be: 1:3,000 for ML and 1:1,000 for EPL. #### 4.1.2 Angular Observations - Instrument: 20" maximum graduation interval - No. of observation: 1 round of FL/FR. - Maximum angular closure must not exceed 30"√n where 'n' is number of stations observed. #### 4.1.3 Linear Measurements - Type of equipment: steel tape, EDM or Total Station and must be caliberated in accordance with Specifications issued by SURCON. - Accuracy of measurement: Correction to linear measurements shall include corrections for standardization, slope, and where applicable, sag; corrections shall be computed to the nearest third decimal place of a metre (nearest millimetre) and after all corrections have been applied, the traverse length shall be expressed to the nearest third decimal place of a metre (nearest millimetre), #### 4.1.4 Control of Bearings by Astronomical Observations. - Azimuths shall be determined by one of the following methods: - Paired East and West observations by altitude or by hour-angle of the sun. - Paired East and West observations by altitude or by hour-angle of stars. - Observations by hour-angle of Polaris. - Gyroscopic observations or other methods of equivalent precision. - From coordinates of two adjacent points obtained by static or differential GPS survey method. - Not less than three observations or three pairs of observations, as appropriate, shall be taken; each observation comprising one full round of face-left and face-right measured in accordance with Regulation 3.15 (i) (b). - The maximum range in the true bearings derived from three observations or three (3) pairs of observations shall be thirty (30) seconds of arc. - Sun or star altitudes shall be within the range of fifteen to forty degrees except for observed hour-angle methods when there shall be no lower limit. - Gyroscopic determinations shall be in accordance with instructions issued by the Surveyors Council of Nigeria. - Plate-level corrections shall be applied to observed horizontal angles. - Any line over which an azimuth is to be observed shall not be less than two hundred (200) metres in length and shall be permanently beaconed at either end prior to the azimuth observations. If a traverse leg of appropriate length is not available the azimuth may be observed from a beaconed Traverse station to any suitable reference object not less than two hundred (200) metres away and the angle from the reference object to the traverse line measured on not less than two (2) zeros, each comprising one full round. - GPS may be used in place of 4.1.2 to 4.1.4 (point position within 5m) ### 4.2 Mining Rights (MR) - The survey is to be by theodolite traverse with a linear closure not exceeding 1/3,000. - The stream is to be picked up by offsets and later plotted on the plan. ### 4.3 Water License (WL) - Survey is to be by theodolite traverse with a linear closure not exceeding 1/1,000. - Beacons are not to be emplaced. The details of the leaf are recorded through offsets to the nearest 0.5m, with maximum offset length of 30m. - The starting and finishing points of this traverse are to be tied to trig stations (or mining beacons near-by if previously tied to trig station). Applicant's lettered points are to be recorded and plotted on the plan. ### 4.4 Mining Rights of Occupancy and Mines Reclamation Areas. These are surveyed in the same way as Property Surveys. ## 5.0 FIELD BOOKS: - All necessary measurements shall be entered in ink in the field book or electronic medium as they are made; any alterations in the manual field book shall be made by crossing through the old value and inserting the new value adjacent to it and shall be signed by the observer. - No erasures shall be made or pages removed. - The contents shall include:- the Surveyor's name; title and number of survey and its location; an index: identity of instruments used; date of standardization of measuring equipment and values of standardization corrections; all observations relating to the survey including offsets to irregular boundaries and measurement to permanent features on or near the boundaries and the date of observation; explanatory diagrams; a certificate signed by the surveyor attesting that the values recorded are the result of the observations in the field. ## 6 COMPUTATIONS: - Azimuths are computed as prescribed for Large Scale/Cadastral Surveys - Bearing and distances are to be deduced or calculated as specified for Large Scale/Cadastral Surveys. ### 6.3 Areas. - M.L. - Computed in Hectares to 4 significant figures from final coordinates of the corners. - E.P.L. - Computed in square kilometres to 3 decimal places or in Hectares. - M.R. - Scaled length (from the drawn plan) between U. B. and L. B. is to be indicated in metres on the plan. - MR of O. and M.R.A. - MRA - Computed in hectares or square kilometres depending on the extent. - MR of O - Computed in square metres or hectares. ## 7.0 PLANS: - Size - 30cm X 20cm (maximum) on stable material. ### 7.2 Information to be shown include: ### 7.3.1 Titles: - Number of Title (lease) - Name of Applicant - Village, town, L.G.A and State. - Priority Sheet Reference ### 7.3.2 Details - North - line - Magnetic Variation (with month and year it was observed) - Adjoining titles and features if any - Connection form trig station/Horizontal control - National grid coordinates of L.M. - Beacons; bearings and lengths of sides to the nearest minute and 0.5m respectively. - Extent (Area) ### 7.3.3 Scales: - E.P.L. - 1:25,000 - M.L. - 1:5,000 - M.R. - 1:5,000 - W.L. - 1.5,000 (for lengths less than 1km) - 1:10,000 (for lengths less than 3km) - 1:25,000 (for lengths less than 8km) - 1:50,000 (for lengths above 8km) - MR of O/MRA - 1:1,000 - 1:2,000 - 1:5,000 - Surveyor's Signature (green), Seal, Rank and Date ### 7.3.4 Colour Convention - Final boundary - Red - Traverse line (not boundary) - Blue - Corner beacons - Double Red Circles - Traverse pegs - Single blue Circles - Bearings and distances along boundaries - red - Heading, area, scale, details etc. - black ## 8.0 RENEWALS AND RE-ISSUES: - Re-survey of all or part is necessary for renewed mining title depending on whether original survey is suspect or some beacons are missing. - Re-capping is to undertaken with new lease numbers, if beacons are found in situ, in case of re-issuance of a lapsed lease to a different operator. The Surveyor is to sign a certificate to this effect on the print. - Missing or misplaced beacons need to be re-established before re-capping, followed by a new survey. ## 9.0 SURVEY RECORDS SUBMISSION: The following documents need to be, numbered, cross-referenced, where necessary and submitted. - The finished plan - Traverse Book(s) - Azimuth computations and grid convergence - Traverse Sheets (Coordinates) - Computations (Area, Bearings and distances) - Connections (Traverse, Triangulation, Resection) - Survey Report - Software (where applicable) ## DEFINITIONS: ### i. Mining Lease (ML plural MLL) An area of land from which the lessee has the right to extract specified minerals. A mining lease is granted, in the first instance, for a maximum of 21 years, but may be renewed under certain circumstances. The only restriction governing its size and shape is that it must not be greater than is necessary for the mining of the minerals contained in it. ### ii. Mining Right (MR Plural MRR) An area along a stream or river, of total width including the width of the stream, of not more than 30 metres, over which the holder has the right to extract specified minerals. A mining right is granted in the first instance for one year only but can be renewed for further periods; its total length, as measured along the stream, must not exceed 1.6 kilometres. It is demarcated by an Upper Beacon (UB) up-stream and a Lower Beacon (LB) downstream. ### iii. Mines Reclamation Area (MRA) A worked-out area of land which has been reclaimed and permanently closed to mining. ### iv. Exclusive Prospecting Licence. (EPL Plural EPLL) An area of land over which the licence holder has the exclusive right to prospect for specified minerals. Its maximum size is 20 square kilometres. (2,000 Ha). ### v. Water Right and Water Licence (WR and WL) A narrow strip of land or part of a stream along which the holder is allowed to collect, store or convey water for mining purposes. ### vi. Right of Occupancy (R. of 0.) A lease of land granted for building, trading or other approved purposes and on the Minesfield generally granted conterminous with mining leases, for the construction of houses, mining camps and stores. ***Note***: - The prefix "A" (meaning "application") to any of the above abbreviations, e.g. AML indicates that final title has not yet been granted.