# Law No. 7312 of May 16, 1985

> Brazilian law

**Wikidata**: [Q105650554](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105650554)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/law-no-7312-of-may-16-1985

## Summary
Law No. 7312 of May 16, 1985 is a Brazilian federal statute enacted to modify Law No. 6.567 of September 24, 1978, specifically to include basalt in a special regime of exploration by licensing. It was promulgated by President José Sarney and published in Brasília on May 16, 1985. The law falls under the jurisdiction of Brazil and is classified as a legal norm focused on extraction, good use, and regulation.

## Key Facts
- **Title:** Lei nº 7312, de 16 de maio de 1985 (Law No. 7312 of May 16, 1985).
- **Type:** Statute (a formal written document that creates law).
- **Jurisdiction:** Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Promulgation Date:** May 16, 1985.
- **Place of Publication:** Brasília, Brazil.
- **Approved By:** Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil.
- **Promulgated By:** José Sarney (President at the time).
- **Primary Purpose:** Amends Law No. 6.567 (September 24, 1978).
- **Specific Amendment:** Includes "basalt" under a special regime of exploration by licensing.
- **Law Digest (Summary):** ALTERA A LEI 6.567, DE 24 DE SETEMBRO DE 1978, PARA INCLUIR O BASALTO NO REGIME ESPECIAL DE EXPLORAÇÃO POR LICENCIAMENTO.
- **Main Subjects:** Regulamentation (Regulamentação), good use (Aproveitamento), extraction (Exploração), change (Alteração), legal norm (Normas), addition (Inclusão).
- **Language:** Brazilian Portuguese.
- **Citation:** Lei nº 7312/1985.
- **Official URL:** Available at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1980-1988/l7312.htm`.
- **LexML Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1985-05-16;7312`.
- **Wikidata Project:** On focus list of WikiProject Brazilian Laws.

## FAQs
**What is the purpose of Law No. 7312/1985?**
This law serves to amend the existing Law No. 6.567 of September 24, 1978. Its specific function is to add basalt to a special licensing regime for exploration activities.

**Who signed and promulgated this law?**
Law No. 7312 was approved by the Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil and was promulgated by President José Sarney on May 16, 1985.

**Where can the official text of this law be accessed?**
The official text is published on the Brazilian Presidency's legislative portal and can be accessed directly via the URL `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1980-1988/l7312.htm`. It also carries the LexML identifier `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1985-05-16;7312`.

## Why It Matters
Law No. 7312 of May 16, 1985, represents a targeted legislative adjustment to Brazil's regulatory framework for mineral exploration. By amending Law No. 6.567 to include basalt under a special exploration licensing regime, it directly impacts how this specific geological resource is extracted and utilized. The law is part of the broader statutory framework of Brazil, a major global economy and a significant player in the mining and natural resources sector. Its enactment reflects the government's authority to modify legal norms regarding resource extraction and "good use" (aproveitamento) of national assets. As a public domain legal document, it ensures transparency and accessibility of regulations affecting industry and environment in Brazil.

## Notable For
- **Specific Resource Regulation:** Explicitly targets the inclusion of basalt in exploration licensing.
- **Amendatory Function:** Modifies a prior law (Law No. 6.567) rather than creating a standalone statute.
- **Historical Context:** Enacted during the presidency of José Sarney, Brazil's first civilian president after the military regime.
- **Public Accessibility:** As a Brazilian statute, it is an official legal document in the public domain, freely accessible to citizens and businesses.
- **Structured Legal Data:** Possesses a formal LexML Brazil ID, making it part of a standardized, machine-readable legal data system.

## Body

### Legislative Purpose and Scope
Law No. 7312, enacted on May 16, 1985, is a federal statute of the Federative Republic of Brazil. Its core legislative intent is to alter the provisions of Law No. 6.567, which was enacted on September 24, 1978. The specific alteration mandated by Law No. 7312 is the inclusion of **basalt** in a "special regime of exploration by licensing" (Regime Especial de Exploração por Licenciamento). This indicates a change in how basalt—a common extrusive igneous rock used in construction—is classified and regulated in terms of mining and exploration permissions.

### Key Subjects and Concepts
The law is categorized under several main subjects that define its legal and functional scope:
- **Regulamentation (Regulamentação):** The act of setting rules or regulations.
- **Good Use (Aproveitamento):** Refers to the utilization or exploitation of a resource.
- **Extraction (Exploração):** The act of extracting natural resources.
- **Change (Alteração) and Addition (Inclusão):** Highlighting its role as an amendatory law.
- **Legal Norm (Normas):** Part of the body of rules and standards.

### Promulgation and Authority
The statute was promulgated by the **Presidency of the Federative Republic of Brazil**. The head of state at the time, **José Sarney**, is identified as the signatory, with the determination method being "promulgation." This action took place on the law's publication date, May 16, 1985, in the capital city of **Brasília**. José Sarney's presidency (1985-1990) marked the transition from military dictatorship to democracy in Brazil, placing this law within a significant period of Brazilian political history.

### Jurisdiction and Classification
The law applies to the jurisdiction of **Brazil** and is written in **Brazilian Portuguese**. It is formally classified as a **statute**, which is a formal written document that creates law, distinguishes it as a subclass of "written work," "document," and "rule." As a statute, it is a manifestation of statutory law and is considered part of the public domain in Brazil and in jurisdictions like the United States, based on the "edict of government doctrine."

### Identifiers and Access
Law No. 7312 has several key identifiers that facilitate its location in legal databases:
- **Legal Citation:** Lei nº 7312/1985.
- **LexML Brazil ID:** `urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1985-05-16;7312`. LexML is a standard for identifying and exchanging legal information in Brazil.
- **Official URL:** The full text is hosted on the official website of the Brazilian Presidency's Civil House at `https://www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/leis/1980-1988/l7312.htm`.

### Related Statutory Framework
This law does not exist in isolation but is part of a chain of legislation:
- **Amends:** Law No. 6.567 of September 24, 1978.
- **Broader Context:** As a statute, it is related to concepts such as "acts," "executive orders," and "by-laws." Its creation follows "draft laws" and results in "statutory law."

## References

1. [Source](https://www.lexml.gov.br/urn/urn:lex:br:federal:lei:1985-05-16;7312)
2. [Source](https://legislacao.presidencia.gov.br/atos?tipo=LEI&numero=7312&ano=1985&data=16/05/1985&ato=298QzYq5keBpWT211)
3. LexML Brasil