1. Materials Act of 1947 Also Called the Common Varieties Act
Allows Government (usually DOI or DOA) to sell mineral rights to common varieties of minerals
Common varieties are
Sand and Gravel
Stone
Pumice, Pumicite, cinders
Clay and Petrified Wood

2. Provisions
If stone has unique and special properties that provide unique value it may be subject to Claim under Mining Law of 1872
Sales of Mineral Rights are Done by Competitive Bid - except for small tracts with a public interest (ie can sell small amounts for public works projects and construction)

3. Minerals Leasing Act For Acquired Lands 1947
Allowed the government to lease minerals on acquired Federal Lands
Most Provisions for land limitations, prospecting permits, preference lease rights etc are same as 1920 act

4. Submerged Lands Act 1953
Gave States Ownership of Lands within 3 miles of shore (up to 9 in the Gulf of Mexico)
Outer Continental Shelf Act of 1953 gave Secretary of the Interior Leasing Authority for mineral beyond state boundaries to U.S. territorial waters limit
Deep Seabed Act of 1980 covers deep sea exploration

5. Multiple Minerals Development Act of 1955
Allowed Leases, Claims, Sales to be located over the top of each other
Indian Lands Covered by Variety of Special provisions under other laws
State Lands vary by procedure
Private Lands anything goes - sales and leases with royalty arrangements dominate
Details - Read Mining Eng Handbook pg. 140 to 158

6. The Environmental Protection Issue
One Critique of Mineral Rights Laws is lack of Environmental Protection Provisions
Multiple Surface Use Act of 1955 limits surface use of mining claims prior to patent to direct operations - allows agencies to regulate through surface use
Leasing and Mineral Rights Sale Laws all require bonding and reclamation for both exploration and mining activities