Section 21, The Mines and Minerals Act, 2009

(1) Subject to this Act, the right to explore for, to retain, tomine and to market minerals may be acquired and held under and in accordance with a mineral right granted under this Act notwithstanding any right of ownership or otherwise that any person may possess to the soil on which minerals are found or situated. (2) No person shall explore for or mine minerals except under and in accordance with a mineral right granted under this Act. (3) Any person who contravenes subsection (2) commits an offence and is liable on convictionthan one thousand United States Dollars, or its equivalent in leones, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years or to both such fine and imprisonment; and 18 19 Prohibition against the disclosure of information. Acquisition of (b) in the case of a body corporate, to a fine not less than twenty thousand United States Dollars, or its equivalent in leones. (4) The court before which a person is convicted under subsection (3) may order the forfeiture of all minerals obtained by that person or if the minerals cannot be forfeited, of such sum of money as the court shall assess as the value of the minerals, and any minerals so forfeited shall be sold and the proceeds of such sales shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund.