The owners of a majority of the acreage in any contiguous body of lands or of lands having a common drainage, certified by the state geologist of this state to contain or probably contain valuable mineral deposits, situate in one or more counties of this state, may form a drainage district for the purpose of having such lands drained for mining purposes, and for that purpose they may make and sign articles of association and be incorporated and be and become a body corporate in all respects and in the same manner as is now provided for the organization, incorporation and government of associations for the drainage of swamps, etc., lands under sections 242.010 to 242.690, with all rights, powers, duties and obligations of drainage districts organized under said sections except as herein otherwise provided.