§ 22. — Lands open to purchase by citizens.
[Laws in effect as of January 7, 2003]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 7, 2003 and December 19, 2003]
[CITE: 30USC22]
TITLE 30--MINERAL LANDS AND MINING
CHAPTER 2--MINERAL LANDS AND REGULATIONS IN GENERAL
Sec. 22. Lands open to purchase by citizens
Except as otherwise provided, all valuable mineral deposits in lands
belonging to the United States, both surveyed and unsurveyed, shall be
free and open to exploration and purchase, and the lands in which they
are found to occupation and purchase, by citizens of the United States
and those who have declared their intention to become such, under
regulations prescribed by law, and according to the local customs or
rules of miners in the several mining districts, so far as the same are
applicable and not inconsistent with the laws of the United States.
(R.S. Sec. 2319.)
Codification
R.S. Sec. 2319 derived from act May 10, 1872, ch. 152, Sec. 1, 17
Stat. 91.
Words ``Except as otherwise provided,'' were editorially supplied on
authority of act Feb. 25, 1920, ch. 85, 41 Stat. 437, popularly known as
the Mineral Lands Leasing Act, which is classified to chapter 3A
(Sec. 181 et seq.) of this title.
Short Title
Sections 22 to 24, 26 to 28, 29, 30, 33 to 35, 37, 39 to 43, and 47
of this title are based on sections of the Revised Statutes which are
derived from act May 10, 1872, ch. 152, 17 Stat. 91, popularly known as
the ``General Mining Act of 1872''.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in sections 24, 29, 33, 37, 38, 39, 40,
42, 46, 47, 48, 49, 102, 541b of this title; title 16 section 460mm-1;
title 25 section 640d-10; title 43 sections 1712, 1714, 1732.