Explainer
How to check mining tenement status
Checking a mining tenement's status - whether ground is granted, pending, or open for application, and who holds it - is a routine but essential task in exploration. Every jurisdiction publishes this information; the skill is knowing which system to use and how to read what it tells you.
Start with the map viewer
The fastest way to understand ground is a spatial viewer - the official map that shows granted and pending tenements over cadastre, geology and land use. Examples include TENGRAPH in Western Australia, GeoResGlobe in Queensland, MinView in New South Wales, SARIG in South Australia, STRIKE in the Northern Territory, GeoVic in Victoria, and Mineral Titles Online in British Columbia. These let you see at a glance whether an area is held, by whom, and what surrounds it.
A map answers the first question - is this ground available? - and shows the context that determines whether it is worth pursuing, such as nearby deposits, infrastructure and competing tenure.
Confirm detail in the title register
For authoritative detail, use the title register: the transactional system that records status, key dates, holder details and dealings. Depending on the jurisdiction this is a system such as Mineral Titles Online, MyMinesOnline, a Mining Titles Register or a Mining Register. Registers let you order formal searches and see the instruments (transfers, mortgages, sub-leases) registered against a title.
The register is where you verify what a map implies. A block that looks open on a viewer might have a pending application not yet displayed; a granted title might be subject to dealings that affect who really controls it.
Understand common status fields
Tenement records typically distinguish 'granted' (a live, active title), 'application' or 'pending' (lodged but not yet granted), and 'open' or 'available' (no current tenure). You will also see expiry or 'good-to' dates, expenditure and reporting status, and sometimes conditions or moratoria. Reading these correctly prevents costly mistakes - for instance, treating pending ground as open.
Be aware of update lag. Some viewers refresh nightly or daily, and newly lodged applications can take time to appear, so a block that looks available may already be spoken for. Cross-checking the register mitigates this risk.
From one-off checks to continuous monitoring
Checking status once tells you the picture today; it says nothing about tomorrow. Because tenure changes constantly, the teams that consistently find opportunities monitor status over time rather than searching on demand - watching for the moment a title lapses, an application is granted, or ground reopens.
Xplore360 Land Monitoring turns these one-off checks into a continuous feed: it tracks status and dates across jurisdictions, flags changes on and around your targets, and delivers the context needed to act - so status monitoring becomes a capability, not a chore.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
- How do I check if ground is available for a mining tenement?
- Use the jurisdiction's official map viewer (such as TENGRAPH, MinView, SARIG or Mineral Titles Online) to see granted and pending tenements, then confirm detail and dealings in the title register. Watch for update lag on newly lodged applications.
- What does 'pending' tenement status mean?
- Pending (or application) status means a tenement has been lodged but not yet granted. It is not open ground - the applicant generally has priority - so it should not be treated as available.
- Is checking tenement status once enough?
- No. Tenure changes constantly, so a single check only reflects today. Continuous monitoring, which Xplore360 Land Monitoring provides, is how teams catch titles lapsing or ground reopening in time to act.
Get in touch
Sign up or talk to our sales team
Sign up for Land Monitoring or contact sales to discuss pricing, pilots, and enterprise requirements.
Pricing
Land Monitoring plans start from A$300/month (GST included), with Independent, Company and Enterprise options. Pick your states on the products page to see launch and annual pricing.
View Land Monitoring pricing