The course content addresses the following topics:
- Conceptual issues: prospecting, mining, minerals, associated concepts, custodianship, Cuius est solum, nature of rights, security of tenure
- Acquisition and conversion of rights, transfer, bonding, letting, amendment, and lapsing
- Black economic empowerment in the mining industry, the Mining Charter and Scorecard, the Code of Good Practice, and the Housing and Living Conditions Standard
- Special types of mining (quarrying, residues, off shore, petroleum)
- Co-ownership, mixed minerals, unlawful mining
- Surface use
- Fiscal issues
- Environmental issues relating to prospecting and mining
- Administrative law aspects
- Constitutional property aspects (expropriation, compensation, bilateral investment treaties, international arbitration, nationalisation)
- Mine health and safety
- State royalties
- Beneficiation, unwrought precious minerals, unpolished diamonds