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

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)

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

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

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

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