Title 30, Mineral Lands and MiningRelease 119-102
§53 Possessory Actions for Recovery of Mining Titles or for Damages to Such Title
Title 30 › CHAPTER 2 — MINERAL LANDS AND REGULATIONS IN GENERAL › § 53
Summary
When people sue in U.S. courts over a mining claim or for harm to it, the fact that the United States owns the land doesn't change the case; judges decide by who had possession.
Full Legal Text
Title 30, §53
Mineral Lands and Mining, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
No possessory action between persons, in any court of the United States, for the recovery of any mining title, or for damages to any such title, shall be affected by the fact that the paramount title to the land in which such mines lie is in the United States; but each case shall be adjudged by the law of possession.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Codification R.S. § 910 derived from act Feb. 27, 1865, ch. 64, § 9, 13 Stat. 441. Section was formerly classified to section 690 of Title 28 prior to the general revision and enactment of Title 28, Judiciary and Judicial Procedure, by act June 25, 1948, ch. 646, § 1, 62 Stat. 869.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
30 U.S.C. § 53
Title 30, Mineral Lands and Mining
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102