Legal Definitions - side lines

The term "side lines" refers to boundaries or edges, but it also has specific meanings in business and mining law.

• 1. Boundaries or Margins:

  In its most general sense, "side lines" refers to the edges or borders that define a specific area, such as a piece of land or a designated zone. These lines mark where one area ends and another begins.

  • Example 1 (Property Boundary): Imagine a homeowner who wants to build a fence. The side lines of their property are the boundaries running from the front of their lot to the back, separating their land from their neighbors' properties. Understanding these lines is crucial to ensure the fence is built entirely on their own land and doesn't encroach on adjacent properties.
  • Example 2 (Construction Zone): A city project involves digging a new trench for utility lines. The designated construction area has clear side lines marked by cones and tape, indicating the precise width of the zone where work will occur and where the public should not enter for safety reasons.
• 2. Ancillary Business or Goods:

  This usage describes secondary or complementary business activities or products that are not the primary focus of a company but still contribute to its overall operations or revenue. These are often additional offerings that leverage the main business.

  • Example 1 (Restaurant Merchandise): A popular restaurant primarily known for its gourmet meals decides to start selling its signature sauces and spice blends in jars. These packaged goods represent a side line business, distinct from its core restaurant service, allowing customers to enjoy their flavors at home and providing an additional revenue stream.
  • Example 2 (Consulting Firm Workshops): A management consulting firm, whose main business is advising large corporations, begins offering workshops and online courses for small business owners on specific topics like financial planning or marketing. These educational offerings are a side line, expanding their reach and utilizing their expertise in a new format.
• 3. Mining Law:

  In the specialized field of mining law, "side lines" refers to the specific boundary lines of a mining claim that run parallel to the mineral vein or deposit. Unlike "end lines," which cross the vein, side lines are intended to follow the general direction of the valuable mineral deposit, defining the width of the claim along the vein's length.

  • Example 1 (Gold Vein Claim): A mining company discovers a long, narrow vein of gold running through a mountain. When they stake their claim, the side lines of their claim will be drawn to run alongside this gold vein, defining the lateral extent of their right to extract gold from that specific deposit. This ensures their claim encompasses the valuable resource without extending unnecessarily far from the vein itself.
  • Example 2 (Coal Seam Boundaries): A company identifies a significant underground coal seam. Their mining claim's side lines would be established to run parallel to the direction of this coal seam, effectively outlining the boundaries within which they can legally extract the coal, following the natural orientation of the mineral deposit.