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the plan submitted, the Minister may order the concession marked out anew, under penalty of cancellation of rights.
The right of priority does not vest in the owner of land on which a discovery of minerals is made. The owner of land cannot refuse to lease to a concessionaire such surface rights as are requisite for the undertaking, but he is granted suitable rent and damages, and may demand security for his rent. Further, the owner of land may force the concessionaire to purchase land which he has used for mining purposes for not less than three years.
Subject to the supervision of the Minister of Agriculture and Commerce, the divisional chiefs of the Mining Inspection Offices have large measure of control in matters affecting the safety of architectural construction both in the mines and in connection with mining, in the protection of the life and health of workmen, and in the protection of the surface of land and of public interests affected by mining.
Strict control also is exercised over the use of explosives, ventilation, construction of chimneys and boilers, provisions against accidents, etc.
The taxes on mining, after passing through various phases, have lately been fixed at 30 sen per 1,000 tsubo on the lease, and, iron excepted, 1 per cent. of the value of the output. The value of the product is determined by the principal market quotations, or, failing that, by the actual sale price.
Sand ore diggings are distinguished by the law from other kinds of ore, in this case the right of priority being granted to the landowner. No foreigner is allowed to hold an interest in this industry, either as a private individual or as a member of a company.
Of mining concessions there were 5,866 in 1901, while 6,862 trial-boring rights were in course of investigation. The chief exports from the mines are coal, from which, in 1901, the amount sent to foreign countries brought in £1,750,000; and copper, which realized £1,390,000 in the same year.
With the growing demand for copper, this metal, of which Japan has unknown quantities, is to be regarded as one of the great national assets. The richest known copper mine in Japan is the ‘Innai,’ which consists, in the sedimentary rocks, of the Tertiary and Diluvial strata, and in the igneous rocks, of porphyrite, vitro andesite, and pyropene andesite. The veins are embedded in the porphyrite. The principal veins are the Motoli, Astumili, Usumili, and Gorojoli, which are branched off from the Houhi. This latter is from 2 to 18 feet. The Ashio copper mine and its vicinity are formed of the Palæozoic strata, penetrated by a series of liparite, in which latter are found the veins, some thirty or more in number,