Title 30, Mineral Lands and MiningRelease 119-102
§502 Reservation of Minerals to the United States; Rights of Entry, Disposition and Removal
Title 30 › CHAPTER 11 — MINING CLAIMS ON LANDS SUBJECT TO MINERAL LEASING LAWS › § 502
Summary
Mining claims validated under federal law remain subject to the United States keeping ownership of the minerals that the mineral leasing laws covered on August 12, 1953. The United States and its lessees, permittees, and licensees may enter the claim to take those minerals and use as much surface or underground area as needed; patents must include this.
Full Legal Text
Title 30, §502
Mineral Lands and Mining, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Any mining claim given force and effect as provided in section 501 of this title shall be subject to the reservation to the United States of all minerals which, upon August 12, 1953, are provided in the mineral leasing laws to be disposed of thereunder, and the right of the United States, its lessees, permittees, and licensees, to enter upon the land covered by such mining claim to prospect for, mine, treat, store, and remove such minerals, and to use so much of the surface and subsurface of such mining claim as may be necessary for such purposes, and to enter upon such land whenever reasonably necessary for the purpose of prospecting for, mining, treating, storing, and removing such minerals on and from other lands of the United States; and any patent issued for any such mining claim shall contain such reservation.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
For definition of “mineral leasing laws”, see section 505 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
30 U.S.C. § 502
Title 30, Mineral Lands and Mining
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102