“It is the policy of the United States, as expressed in Acts of Congress, to make public lands available to the people for the purpose of mining valuable mineral deposits, and to encourage exploration for, and development of, mineral resources on public lands. Accordingly, the United States has reserved all lands ‘valuable for minerals’ … from disposition under the nonmineral statutes, and has made them open to entry for mining purposes, under regulations prescribed by law …. In other words … where statute authorizes the Federal Government to acquire lands, without indicating that lands are to be acquired for a particular purpose, lands so acquired are public lands subject to mineral entry.” 53A Am. Jur. 2d Mines and Minerals § 23, at 274 (1996).
mineral entry
mineral entry. The right of entry on public land to mine valuable mineral deposits. [Cases: Mines and Minerals 9–38. C.J.S. Mines and Minerals §§ 13, 26–93, 95–110, 112, 131.]
