Priority liens on their liquid gold. Miners Liens
Miners Liens are similar to Mechanics Liens in some respects, but different in others. The key difference is that Miners Liens attach to the production from a mine, meaning that the value of the ore produced and sold forms part of the security.
Miners Liens are also available to contractors, subcontractors, and labourers who have not been paid by an owner or contractor for work done, materials supplied, or labour performed. The work or materials must be connected to the operation of a mine.
Miners Liens cast a wider net than Mechanics Lien. Not only does a Miners Lien attach to the owner’s interest in the land and the mine, it also attaches to the owner’s interest the minerals or ores produce from the mine, as well as the chattels, equipment, and machinery used in connection with the mine or land.
Another difference is that the underlying title for mining properties is usually held by the Crown, with the owner holding a leasehold interest in the surface and subsurface minerals. For that reason, leases for mines are registered with the NWT Mining Recorder rather than the Land Titles Office. Miner Liens can be registered against the owner’s mining leases through the Mining Recorder.