Minerals

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The BLM administers approximately 36.5 million subsurface acres in Idaho. Additionally, BLM administers mining claim records and mineral leases on lands managed by other federal agencies.

Minerals managed by the BLM are categorized as leasable, salable, or locatable. Although similar in many ways, each classification is administered somewhat differently and may also have different requirements for acquisition, exploration, and development.

Leasable minerals are those minerals that can be explored for and developed in accordance with the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, other leasing acts and BLM’s implementing regulations. They include energy mineral resources such as oil, gas, coal, and geothermal fluids, and some non-energy minerals, such as phosphate, sodium, potassium, and sulfur.

Salable minerals, or mineral materials, are common varieties of minerals and building materials such as sand, stone, gravel, pumice, pumicite, cinders, and clay. BLM management of salable minerals is conducted under the Materials Act of 1947, as amended, and BLM’s implementing regulations (43 CFR 3600). BLM is authorized to dispose of mineral materials either through a contract of sale or a free use permit.

Generally, salable minerals are widespread, of low unit value, and are often used for construction or landscaping materials. Their value depends largely on market factors, quality of the material, availability of transportation, and transportation costs.

Locatable minerals are those that are not leasable or salable which are managed under the General Mining Law of 1872 and BLM’s implementing regulations (43 CFR 3700 and 3800). They typically include gold, silver, copper, gemstones, lead, zinc, barite, gypsum, and certain varieties of high calcium limestone. The 1872 Mining Law provides United States citizens the right to prospect, explore, and develop these minerals on public domain lands that have not been “withdrawn” from mineral entry by Congress or the Secretary of the Interior.