Pennsylvania Statutes Title 32 P.S. Forests, Waters and State Parks § 143. Definitions

(1) “Ores” means all minerals which can be recovered at a profit, except mineral fuels (coal, oil, gas, etc.) peat, clay, building stone, crushed stone, sand, gravel, halite, gypsum and brines but shall include glass sands, high silica sands, black sands, heavy mineral sands, china clays and pottery clays, as well as other valuable nonmetallic minerals not excluded above.

(2) “Prospecting” means surface examination, geologic mapping, geophysical and geochemical surveying and limited exploratory drilling and collection of samples which can be done without serious disturbances of the surface or damage to wildlife, plants and timber growth or disturbance or pollution of any stream or body of water.

(3) “Development” means extensive drilling, drainage, pitting, driving of shafts or adits, etc., as shall be necessary to determine the extent of an ore deposit and to mine, produce, extract, process and sell said ores and by-products.

(4) “Department” means the Department of Forests and Waters.  1

(5) “Secretary” means the Secretary of Forests and Waters.

(6) “Financial responsibility” means the financial backing or capital necessary to undertake the proposed development.