Title 30 — Mineral Lands and MiningRelease 119-73not60
§707 Reservation of Mineral Rights
Title 30 › Chapter 20— CONVEYANCES TO OCCUPANTS OF UNPATENTED MINING CLAIMS › § 707
Summary
When the U.S. transfers land, it keeps the mineral rights for the same time. Minerals you can claim under mining laws are withdrawn, and oil, gas, and other leasable minerals stay federal for exploration and development but cannot be reached via the surface; the Secretary may lease them.
Full Legal Text
Title 30, §707
Mineral Lands and Mining — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
In any conveyance under this chapter the mineral interests of the United States in the lands conveyed are reserved for the term of the estate conveyed. Minerals locatable under the mining laws or disposable under subchapter I of chapter 15 of this title, are withdrawn from all forms of entry and appropriation for the term of the estate. The underlying oil, gas, and other leasable minerals of the United States are reserved for exploration and development purposes, but without the right of surface ingress and egress, and may be leased by the Secretary under the mineral leasing laws.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
30 U.S.C. § 707
Title 30 — Mineral Lands and Mining
Last Updated
Apr 5, 2026
Release point: 119-73not60