Know before you dig

The BLM would like to encourage surface owners to properly verify their ownership of mineral rights before excavating sand, gravel, stone, or scoria on their property. Surprisingly, these materials may or may not belong to the surface owner.

Millions of acres of private land in the Montana/Dakotas region involve a split estate; where the surface ownership is private, but the mineral rights are retained by the federal government or other entities. Surface owners need to be aware that previous court cases may have resulted in changes regarding the mineral ownership after the original land patent...