Mineral resources are known or estimated geologic deposits of materials that are useful in industrial processes.
Related resource topics for county planning include:
Mineral resources are regulated and managed depending on the resource being extracted and are grouped into three categories: locatable, leasable, and saleable.
Locatable Minerals
High-value minerals such as gold, silver, and copper are subject to the Mining Law of 1972, and amended by 30 USC Ch.2.
Leasable Minerals
Include gas, oil, oil shale, coal, phosphate, and geothermal resources are subject to the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended and supplemented (30 US Code [USC] 181, et. seq.), the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands as amended (30 USC 351-359), and the Geothermal Steam Act of 1970 (30 USC 1001-1025).
Saleable Minerals
Common minerals including sand, stone, gravel, pumice, clay, and petrified wood. Regulation of these minerals on public lands is authorized by 30 U.S.C. 601. State and private lands are regulated by state, county, and local jurisdiction and land use codes.
The location of mineral mines within the county can be determined from the Mineral Mines data (MineralsDBMarch2015 SMOnly). Contract data and Ownership data of minerals and related energy resources can also be used to locate areas of the county being used or may be used for mineral extraction.
- Categorize lands as open to fluid mineral leasing, open with special stipulations, allowing no surface occupancy, or closed.[1]
- Categorize lands as open or closed to extraction of clay, sand and gravel, or other mineral materials, open with special stipulations, or closed.
- Achieve and maintain a continuing yield of energy and mineral resources from public lands.[2]
- Coordinate management, permitting, and research activities between applicable local, state, and federal agencies surrounding the Great Salt Lake.[3]
- Ensure prudent operations during mineral operations and appropriate reclamation after mineral developments cease.[3]
- Balance the interests between the public trust and private entities to encourage efficient use of mineral resources.[3]
- Annual mineral activity and extractive industry reports from the Utah Geological Survey’s Energy and Mineral Resources web page provide information about statewide mining development, trends, and economic factors.
- Information on market trends for specific minerals can be found at the USGS National Minerals Information Center.
A report regarding the Economic Significance of the Great Salt Lake to the State of Utah includes information regarding mineral extraction from the lake.[4]
- The Utah Geological Survey’s Mineral Resources webpage provides information regarding energy and mineral research, statistics, extraction activity reports, resource maps and other current information.
- Mining permits and records from the Utah Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining Minerals Program address environmental effects and reclamation efforts for specific mining operations.
- Mineral resources from the Great Salt Lake are managed by the Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands
| Data Name | Data Explanation | Publication Date | Spatial Accuracy | Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| State lands energy and mineral plat maps , | SITLA oil and gas plat map, coal plat map, and others minerals | unknown | unknown | State of Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA). GIS Group |
| Land Ownership , | Surface Land Ownership; use Admin field to identify administrative agency | Updated Weekly | 1:24,000 | State of Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA). GIS Group |
| Uranium Data - Mines, Mills, Past Producers, and Area Boundaries | Data package | various | various | State of Utah |
| Utah Oil Gas Tabular Data | Statistical data on drilling, production, and other content | Various | Various | Utah Division Oil, Gas, and Minerals (DOGM) |
| Mineral Mine Locations | Active and retired mineral mines that have state permit record files | March 2015 | Unknown | Division Oil, Gas, and Minerals (DOGM) |
References
- US Department of Interior, Bureau of Land Management, Salt Lake District. 1988. Proposed Pony Express Resource Management Plan and Final Environmental Impact Statement, September.
- Tooele County. 2008. Tooele County General Plan.
- Utah Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry, Fire, and State Lands. 2013. Final Great Salt Lake Mineral Leasing Plan and Record of Decision. March.
- Bioeconomics, Inc. 2012. Economic Significance of the Great Salt Lake to the State of Utah. Report prepared for the Great Salt Lake Advisory Council, January 26.