Mining Lands
For an overview of Mining Lands, please see
Mining Claims, Leases and Patents
Unpatented Mining Claims
Unpatented mining claims are parcels of Crown land staked in accordance with the Mining Act. Claim holders have the exclusive right to explore for minerals and have a right to acquire a mining lease for the purpose of mining. The claim holder has a right to transfer or sell an interest in the mining claim. Part II of the Mining Act deals with mining claims.
Mining Leases
Under the Mining Act, a lease (or patent) is required in order to produce a mineral product for sale. Leases are now issued for 21-year terms, but leases for 10-year terms still exist. Before expiry, the lessee can apply to the dispositions office to have the lease renewed for a further 10- or 21-year period. Contact the Land Tenure / Dispositions Office for further details; also see How to Lease Mining Claim in Ontario.
Mining Patents
A mining rights patent may include the surface rights or both the surface and mining rights and may be held by one or more individuals or corporations. A patent (or lease) is required in order to produce a mineral product for sale. Mining patents were issued under the Mining Act in the past and are no longer a common method of acquiring mineral tenure.
Other Freehold Patented Lands
Other Crown patents may include mining rights. Typically, any land granted before 1913 conveys mineral rights ownership. For further information, see Facts About Mining in Ontario.
Other Land Tenure
A holder of a mining lease may be allowed to lease available surface rights within or outside of the mining lease for the purpose of mining or exploration of the mining rights. Contact the Land Tenure / Dispositions Office for further details.
Crown Land
Some mining projects may require the acquisition of Crown lands under the Public Lands Act administered by the Ministry of Natural Resources. These circumstances are usually related to the acquisition or some form of land tenure to accommodate access or infrastructure such as roads, power lines, pipelines and other facilities. Information related to Crown land acquired under the Public Land Act is available through the Ministry of Natural Resources.
The Mining Sequence
