Small-scale mining code

Projects that have a relatively low environmental impact and meet the eligibility criteria for a small-scale mining activity do not need an environmental authority and can operate under the Small-scale mining code (PDF, 206KB).

If you already have an environmental authority and meet the criteria, you can apply to surrender your environmental authority when you renew your resource authority, or at any other time.

Miners operating under the code must follow its guidelines and mandatory conditions, as well as comply with the general environmental duty of the Environmental Protection Act 1994.

Eligibility criteria for small-scale mining code

Mining activities carried out under the resource authorities shown in the table below are eligible.

Note that activities cannot occur:

in a designated precinct in a strategic environmental area
within 1km of a Category A or 500m of a Category B environmentally sensitive area
on a strategic cropping area
in a watercourse or riverine area.

Mining activities eligible for EA exemption

Resource authority	Mineral mined	Mining activities	Area of authority
Prospecting permit	Any	Any	Any
Mining claim	Corundum, gemstones or other precious stones	Machine or hand-mining	20ha or less No more than 5ha can be disturbed at any time
Exploration permit	Minerals other than coal	Any	4 sub-blocks or less No more than 0.1ha can be disturbed at any time

Also consider...

Download the Opal and gem miners' handbook (PDF, 7.5MB) for safety advice to lower your risk of injury.

Last reviewed: 12 Nov 2019
Last updated: 3 Jan 2020

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