Mineral Property Management and Law - 2021 entry

The focus of the module is the sustainable management of land assets with a focus on mineral properties and brownfield land.  This module is interdisciplinary in nature, recommended for interdisciplinary pathways; and designed to furnish the student with research and reporting skills and with experience and awareness of the methodologies and standards required in practice by professional bodies, such as the RICS, ICE and IOMMM.

This module is aligned with the Minerals and resources pathway for the RICS and relates to the designation of Chartered Minerals Surveyor. This module is compulsory for RICS accreditation, and will open career pathways for students of other mineral and resource focussed programmes.  It grounds the student in the knowledge and skills that are mandated for the Professional accreditation pathways for Environmental Surveyors, Mineral Surveyors and Land Surveyors.

To develop an understanding of the principles of land management concepts and issues in the development and re-development, or restoration and remediation of, industrial and non-fuel mineral development land. The legal responsibilities and role of the Surveyor, as an appointed professional, will be paramount to the course content.

The module will introduce concepts of highest and best use of land and resources, legal aspects and definitions of land and resource ownership, and:

- Quantitative and qualitative evaluation and reporting of land and land condition;

- Mineral ownership and development;

- Ethics, fraud and land crime;

- Legal structures of ownership, transfer and conveyance, and liability;

- Marketing and financing issues;

- Communities and stakeholders, land access issues;

- Sustainable development principles;

- International frameworks and norms applicable to land tenure, investment, conservation and mineral working.

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge:

1 Demonstrate a working knowledge of philosophies of land management, to include the sustainable use of land and the economics of sustainability;

2 Demonstrate the ability to observe, record, analyse and evaluate land condition, value and worth; and formulate appropriate recommendations for land management options and land stewardship;

3 Demonstrate the ability to structure, publish and present professional opinion in a commercial context;

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge:

4 Synthesize complex arguments based on a mix of economic indicators, site characterization and comparative market data;

5 Understanding of the legal and ethical responsibilities of the Surveyor;

6 Understanding of mineral rights and permits in the UK and other jurisdictions;

7 Interpretation and application of legal and technical knowledge pertaining to mining operations and mineral properties and resource valuations;

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge:

8 Decision making in complex and dynamic situations;

9 Knowledge and experience of use of complex data sets, legacy documentation;

10 Independent learning ability required for continuing professional development (RICS, IOM3, CEng);

11 Develop the ability to communicate complex mineral extraction development and permitting information to non-cognate audiences;

12 Understanding of the legal and ethical responsibilities of the Surveyor.

(To be confirmed, based on module structure for 2019/20).

Outline:

- Concepts of price, value and worth, land law and the case for minerals and mineral rights;

- Mining and mineral extraction in the current global economic and geopolitical context;

- Due diligence and pre-feasibility reporting. Assessment of the current status of land markets;

- Effects of supply and demand on valuation and highest/best use of land and buildings; Land condition; the Environmental Damage Regulations; Methods of valuation, market valuation and taxation, mineral rights and severance, rights of support and ground stability issues;

- End-of-life mine planning and liabilities associated with former mineral sites;

- Minimum 2 x Field trips to a successfully repurposed former mining site and to one of the UKs largest operational mineral extraction sites.

As directed by DoE / UoE policy at time of re-assessment.

Basic Reading:

ELE - http://vle.exeter.ac.uk/

Web based and Electronic Resources:

The Law Relating to Mineral Working and Mineral Landholdings, RICS Briefing paper

International Comparative Guide to Mining Law 2017, ICLG

Valuation of Development Land, RICS Information Paper

Form and Structure of Mineral Option and Lease, RICS Guidance Note

Boundaries: Procedures for Boundary Identification, Demarcation and Dispute Resolution, 3^rd ed., RICS Guidance Note

Other Resources:

The Mineral Estate Surveyors Handbook, Vincent, Powell & Troman (draft edition - print release date TBC)

Reading list for this module: