VPRS 10806 Exploration Licence Files

Full description

This series comprises documentation relating to the issue, including instances when applications for licenses were refused, and/or currency of exploration licences. An exploration licence authorises exploration of for Crown-owned minerals on or under Crown and private land in areas where there is no existing mineral production. Exploration can thus be the starting point for substantial mineral development.

The first exploration licences were issued by the Department of Mines under the Mines Act in the mid 1960s. These licences were introduced to enable the exploration of much larger areas than that previously under the system of mining leases, search permits or prospective licences.  Most exploration licences were issued to companies with substantial expertise and adequate finance to carry out thorough exploration programmes. Protection of licence area can be assured by taking out a lease of the area (after the first year).

Papers on file may include: original application plus supporting evidence submitted by the applicant and or applicant's technical advisers, e.g. maps of area applied for, copies of certificates of incorporation, copies of certificates of registration of a foreign company, report/programme of intended exploration, prescribed annual report of company, newspaper procedures and application particulars throughout the approval process, e.g. memorandum for chief draughtsman, exploration licence bond form; application fees; Ministerial approval/refusal to grant licence; quarterly or half-yearly reports to the Department on such subjects as progress of operations, surveys, results of samples, expenditure incurred; declarations including statutory declarations; copy of licence; receipts and bank deposit book; applications for extensions of licence's term; pamphlets and booklets; notifications of impending expiration; licence transfers (if these occurred; clerical action sheet, and correspondence, e.g. letters received and outgoing, notes, notifications, directives, etc. The final status of the application, or if granted license, is recorded on the file cover as either refused, expired or cancelled.

One file was was raised for each exploration application received and was given a progressive single number. Control records such as registers or indexes are yet to be identified.