176Legal or equitable interest

### 176 Legal or equitable interest > > (1)  A legal or equitable interest in or affecting any mineral tenement is of no effect unless – > > > > > > (a) it is created or dealt with by a written instrument; and > > > > > > > (b) the written instrument is approved by the Minister; and > > > > > > > (c) the interest is in favour of – > > > > > > > > > > (i) any person 18 years of age or more; or > > > > > > > > > > > (ii) a body corporate; or > > > > > > > > > > > (iii) a combination of such a person and a body corporate. > > > (2)  A person may apply to the Minister for approval of a written instrument referred to in [subsection (1)](#GS176@Gs1@EN) . > > > (3)  An application is to – > > > > > > (a) be in an approved form; and > > > > > > > (b) be accompanied by the prescribed fee; and > > > > > > > (c) contain any information the Minister requires; and > > > > > > > (d) be lodged with the Registrar. > > > (4)  The Minister may – > > > > > > (a) grant the application subject to any condition the Minister considers appropriate; or > > > > > > > (b) refuse to grant the application. > > > (5)  The Minister, by notice in writing, must notify the applicant of – > > > > > > (a) the grant of the application; or > > > > > > > (b) the refusal to grant the application and the reason for the refusal.