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Mining life cycle and permitting

Last updated on March 31, 2025

The provincial government regulates all mining activities in British Columbia. Activities include exploration, production, reclamation and closure. This applies to all mineral, coal, placer, sand, gravel, and quarry operations.

Mine lifecycle

Stages of the mining lifecycle:

Occurs throughout the lifecycle:

Stages of the mining lifecycle

Mining lifecycle in BC

Legislation

The Mines Act and the accompanying Health, Safety and Reclamation Code for Mines in British Columbia (the Code), along with a Mines Act permit are the regulatory requirements related to mining activities. Learn more about mining related legislation. 

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Public geoscience

Public geoscience is a collection of data, information, and publications. This information can identify mining opportunities and lead to investment in the mining industry.

The British Columbia Geological Survey (BCGS) creates and disseminates public geoscience information that supports effective mineral exploration, sound land use management, responsible governance, and attracts investment.  

 

Prospecting and tenuring

The prospecting stage involves research and interpretation of public geoscience. Prospectors will identify large-scale areas that show a potential deposit.
 
Prospecting usually involves handwork and remote sensing. Activities include:
  • Researching
  • Mapping
  • Hand-sampling
  • Airborne geophysical surveys
  • Other works with minimal physical disturbance of the land
If a prospector wants to do handwork they need to get the rights to the commodity. Depending on the type of material, tenuring is governed by Mineral Tenure Act, Coal Act or Land Act. Prospectors must maintain these tenure rights throughout the entire mine lifecycle. This ensures the rights to the material they are working to extract. 
 
The Mineral Titles Branch (MTB) administers the legislation governing the acquisition, exploration and development of mineral, placer mineral, and coal rights in the Province.
 
First, prospectors need a Free Miner Certificate. Then, they use Mineral Titles Online (MTO) to apply for mineral or placer claims. The holder of a claim has the right to search for deposits on that claim. Coal clients can apply for coal licences directly to the branch.
 
The Land Act governs the tenure rights for aggregate including sand and gravel. Holding a licence of occupation or owning the surface grants the rights to aggregate.
 

Exploration and discovery

Investment in a mine involves mechanized mining and exploration activities. Mining and exploration activities for mineral, coal, placer, and sand and gravel sites may include:
  • Drilling
  • Excavation, trenching and test pits
  • Site reclamation
  • Developing access via road, water or air, etc.​ 
  • Advanced exploration activities, such as bulk sampling
Mechanized mining and exploration activities require a Mines Act permit. Regional permitting offices issue and authorize Mines Act permits for regional mines.
 

Production

Moving from exploration to production follows different processes depending on the mine type. 

  • Mineral or coal 
  • Sand and gravel
  • Quarry
  • Placer

Production mining activities require a Mines Act permit. The major mines office issues and authorizes Mines Act permits for producing mineral and coal mines. Regional permitting offices issue and authorize permits for producing quarry, placer, and sand and gravel mines. 

 

Closure

Mine closure is the final phase of the mining lifecycle.
 
A mine’s life comes to an end once:
  • Production reserves are exhausted
  • Resource extraction is no longer economically viable 
Shutdown and decommissioning of a mine involve:
  • Removing equipment such as vehicles and processing equipment
  • Dismantling facilities such as mills and workers’ quarters
  • Safely closing all mine workings
Some mines remain in a state of care and maintenance. This requires ongoing monitoring and maintenance. Some closed mines may restart operations based on new technology or a change in economic conditions.
 
Mines Act permits include site-specific conditions regarding detailed closure and reclamation plans, and end land use objectives. Mine closure occurs once the permit holder satisfies all Act, Code and permit obligations. The Province can then close the permit and return the reclamation security.
 

Reclamation 

Reclamation is the process of restoring disturbed ground to a safe, stable, and environmentally sound state. Reclamation occurs throughout the life cycle of the mine.
 
Beginning at the exploration phase, the permittee provides reclamation securities. This ensures that the permittee will fulfill all reclamation requirements. To keep costs and liabilities low, reclamation is a progressive process.

 

 

BC Budget website contains news release information, the finance minister's budget speech and ministry strategic plans.

Contact information

Mines contact information:

  • Regional mines offices
  • Mines incident reporting
  • Mines inquiries and complaints
  • Geological survey
  • Major mines
  • Mine health and safety
  • Mines auditing
  • Mineral titles

Follow the links below to find additional information about mines in B.C.