A "precious stones prospecting permit" (or P.S.P.P) is a permit that allows an individual or company to peg a precious stones claim in South Australia. Each state in Australia has its own mining laws. The South Australian Opal Mining Act applies to each of the opal fields in S.A. and pastoral land and crown land areas outside the boundaries of precious stones fields.    

Recent changes in the South Australian mining laws allow a P.S.P.P. holder to hold a maximum of one claim within a "Declared Precious Stones Field" (ie: Mintabie, Coober Pedy, Andamooka) and one claim within an eligible area outside a Declared Precious Stones Field (ie: Lambina Station).

Mining regulations differ depending upon whether you are working inside or outside a declared field. "Primary Industries and Resources South Australia" (PIRSA) are the Government department that administer opal mining tenements in South Australia. Full mining law, safety and other information can be obtained from them, and field offices are present at all precious stones fields. The field office is the place all mining registrations, permit applications and general mining business usually takes place.

Some points to remember are:

A P.S.P.P. is a permit to peg and register a precious stones claim.

You must be at least 16 years of age to hold a P.S.P.P. and register a mining tenement.

You must have the required identification when applying for a P.S.P.P.

After you peg a claim, you must register it if you want to continue working the claim beyond 14 days. First time registration of a claim is for 3 months. Renewals of claims extend registration for a further 12 months.