Nature and Purpose

The objectives of the National Department of Mineral Production are: to foster the planning and promotion of exploration and mining of mineral resources, to supervise geological and mineral exploration and the development of mineral techonology, as well as to ensure, control and monitor the exercise of mining activities throughout the national territory, in accordance with the Mining Code, the Mineral Water Code and respective legislation and regulations that complement them. It is especially incumbent to it:

I -   to promote the granting or mineral rights, or to propose it to the proper authorities, when appropriate;

II -  to coordinate, systematize and integrate geological data of mineral depositis;

III - to follow-up, analyze and make known the performance of the Brazilian and the international mineral economy;

IV - to formulate and propose guidelines for mineral policy;

V - to promote mineral production and to foster the rational and efficient use of mineral resources;

VI - to monitor the exploration, mining, processing and marketing of minerals; to serve writs to violators and to impose applicable sanctions, in accordance with mineral legislation;

VII - to set up norms, of a complementary nature, and to monitor the environment, health and safety of mining activities, working in cooperation with existing agencies responsible for the environment, health and safety of workers;

VIII - to establish and run data banks to assist the work on mineral policy required for governmental planning;

IX - to set up norms relating to, and monitor the payment of, the Financial Compensation for the Exploration of Mineral Resources;

X - to foster small mining companies;

XI - to establish areas and conditions for the exercise of scatter-mining (garimpagem) by individuals or associations.