An exploration licence (EL) is the principal title issued for exploration in the state of South Australia.

An exploration licence authorises the licensee, subject to the Mining Act 1971, regulations and conditions of the licence, to explore for all minerals and/or opal other than extractive minerals.

Minerals Regulatory Guideline MG33: Mineral exploration licences describes the exploration licensing framework.

Information about mineral exploration licence applications, licences, licence holders and exploration release areas is published in the following information sheets:

Tenement information/SARIG

Information about current mineral tenements is available via the South Australian Resources Information Gateway (SARIG).

SARIG can be used to:

  • Identify ground open for exploration licence application
  • Download exploration data and reports
  • Apply online for new exploration licences and renewals
  • Track the processing status of an EL application
  • Download mineral exploration application/licence reports M01, M02, M03, M04 (see above)
  • Download and print state maps (updated daily) including:
    • Mineral exploration tenement applications
    • Mineral exploration licences
    • Mineral exploration release areas
    • Mineral production tenements
    • Land access considerations, for example Parks, Aboriginal Land, Defence Lands etc.

Useful documents

For more information

Mineral Tenements
Phone: +61 8 8463 3103
Email: DEM.Tenements@sa.gov.au

Postal address (for forms, report submissions):
Mineral Tenements
GPO Box 618
Adelaide SA 5001

Maps and historical information are available from:
Customer Services
Phone: +61 8 8463 3000
Email: DEM.CustomerServices@sa.gov.au