[meteorite-list] Fossils - Is Ownership Governed by Surface Rights or Mineral Rights ?

From: Paul <etchplain_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2018 20:44:23 -0600
Message-ID: <6d237550-40f1-ef0d-888c-d296cbac9537_at_att.net>

This is an interesting legal battle about whether
surface rights or mineral rights determines fossil
ownership.

Fight over dinosaur fossils comes down to what?s a mineral
 ?By Amy Beth Hanson, AP, Washington Post, November 16, 2018
https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/fight-over-dinosaur-fossils-comes-down-to-whats-a-mineral/2018/11/16/6025a23a-e9e7-11e8-8449-1ff263609a31_story.html

The article states:

"Ownership of two fossilized dinosaur skeletons found on a
Montana ranch in 2006 are the subject of a legal battle over
whether they are part of a property?s surface rights or mineral
rights. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued? a split
decision saying fossils are minerals under mineral rights laws."

In case of meteorites, would a fall found on the surface be
governed by surface rights and a buried meteorite dug
from the ground be governed by mineral rights?? :-)? :-)

Yours,

Paul H.
Received on Tue 20 Nov 2018 09:44:23 PM PST