The Department of Mine and Geology has granted mining permissions to 141 persons and companies. The Mine and Heritage Division of the department issued the permits to excavate minerals and elements like limestone, sphatik, silica, iron, dolomite, ruby, zinc, coal and copper in the current fiscal year. Division chief Ram Prasad Ghimire said although the division had conducted studies in more than 500 places, excavation permissions were issued in only 241. Most mining works would be carried out on domestic investment, he added. (RSS)