California Code, Public Resources Code - PRC § 3984

Any shareholder of a corporation formed under the laws of this state for the purpose of mining, may visit, accompanied by his or her expert, and examine the mines owned by the corporation, and every part thereof, at any time he or she may see fit.

When the shareholder applies to the president of the corporation, the president shall immediately cause the secretary thereof to issue and deliver to the shareholder an order, under the seal of the corporation, directed to the superintendent, commanding him or her to show and exhibit parts of the mines that the shareholder named in the order may desire to visit and examine. The superintendent, on receiving the order, shall furnish the shareholder every facility for making a full and complete inspection of the mines, and of the workings therein, and shall either accompany the shareholder in person or furnish some person familiar with the mines to accompany the shareholder in the visit to and through the mines and every part thereof.

If the superintendent fails to obey the order, the shareholder may recover, in any court of competent jurisdiction, against the corporation, the sum of one thousand dollars ($1,000) and traveling expenses to and from the mine, as liquidated damages, together with costs of suit. In case of a refusal, the directors of the corporation shall immediately remove the officer so refusing, and thereafter he or she shall not be employed directly or indirectly by the corporation and shall not be paid any salary.