At least 38 coal miners were killed by an explosion on Sunday at an illegal mine in Jiangsu province and dozens were missing, state news media reported.

Mr. Uram said that if Congress approved the new budget, "it would be a signal to wildcatters and outlaws in the coal fields to open illegal mines."

As rare earth prices goes up because of the restriction of export, many illegal mines were developed by organized criminals to benefit from the trade.

Brazil said its government has achieved control over Garimpeiro (illegal mines) tin mining operations, especially in the Bom Futuro region.

The modest improvement came despite an intense effort to shut illegal mines and crack down on managers who run substandard operations.

The government has promised to close the foulest factories and to shutter thousands of illegal mines, where some of the worst safety and environmental hazards are concentrated.

Furthermore, the country is plagued with extremely dangerous illegal mines.

However, there are many illegal mines in Rajasthan, some of them operating at the edges of the Sariska Tiger Reserve.

Whilst Mitchell's operations were going on, a number of small illegal mines operated in the district in defiance of the monopoly.

"How close is the crater to collapsing because of this--this illegal mine?"