Mineral Resources


Natural resources in the form of minerals (solid inorganic substances).

Related resource topics for county planning include:

 

 

 

 


Map of Data


Download mxd

The ESRI mxd file of the services used to create the above map.


Resource Information

Mineral resources are deposits or occurrences of inorganic materials with intrinsic economic value (such as ore, aggregate, oil, and gas) that may be extracted from the earth’s crust. Mineral resources are regulated and managed based on type, and are grouped into three categories: locatable, leasable, and saleable.  

Locatable Minerals
This category includes high-value minerals such as gold, silver, and copper that are subject to the Mining Law of 1972 as amended by 30 USC 2. Under the Mining Law, mining claims can be filed for these minerals. The category also includes certain industrial minerals such as gypsum, chemical grade limestone, and chemical grade silica sand. Uncommon varieties of mineral materials such as pozzolan, pumice, decorative rock, and cinders may also be regulated as locatable minerals if demonstrated to have unique market value.

Leasable Minerals
This category includes gas, oil, oil shale, coal, phosphate, and geothermal resources, and are subject to the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920, as amended and supplemented (30 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
This category includes more common mineral resources including sand, stone, gravel, pumice, clay, and petrified wood. Regulation of these minerals on public lands is authorized by 30 USC 601. State and private lands are regulated by state, county, and local jurisdiction and land use codes.

Mineral resources specific to Carbon and Emery counties from Energy, Mineral, and Ground-Water Resources of Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah (2003)[1]:

  • Production of precious metals are insignificant.
  • Gypsum and humate are present in developable quantities.
  • Good quality sand and gravel are not present and must be imported from other counties.

Available data about Utah mineral resources include locations of existing and closed mineral mines and known mineral resources on State-owned lands. 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.

Best Management Practices

The following are examples of goals and policies from existing SEUALG county general plans that other counties may want to consider as possible planning goals.

  • Assure timely progress of resource and mineral extraction, while ensuring that those who initiate frivolous lawsuits to bear the costs of those suits [2].
  • Establish reasonable and effective stipulations and conditions to protect against damage to cultural resources with regard to decisions to issue mineral leases, permit drilling or permit seismic activities in the Public Lands Region. Such drilling and seismic activities should not be disallowed merely because they are in the immediate vicinity of cultural resources if it is shown that such activities will not damage those resources [3].
  • With respect to the mineral industry, counties should continue to support the growth and development of these industries as opportunities present themselves and new technologies develop [3].
  • Facilitate immediate and orderly ongoing extraction of mineral resources [4].
  • Encourage extractive industries to be in compliance with federal, state, and county laws and regulations, while protecting multiple use concepts and rights to access [4].
  • Review cases of suspected abuse of the mining laws such as occupancy of the land for purposes other than prospecting, mining, and related activities. Initiate appropriate action to resolve abuses [5].


Economic Considerations


Impact Considerations
  • 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.


Data Download
  GIS Data Map Service Web Map Document  Tabular Data  Website
Data NameData ExplanationPublication DateSpatial AccuracyContact
State lands energy and mineral plat maps
,
SITLA oil and gas plat map, coal plat map, and others mineralsunknownunknownState of Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA).
GIS Group
Land Ownership
,
Surface Land Ownership; use Admin field to identify administrative agencyUpdated Weekly1:24,000State of Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration (SITLA).
GIS Group
Uranium Data - Mines, Mills, Past Producers, and Area Boundaries
Data packagevariousvariousState of Utah
Mineral Mine Locations
Active and retired mineral mines that have state permit record filesMarch 2015UnknownDivision Oil, Gas, and Minerals (DOGM)
Utah Oil Gas Tabular Data
Statistical data on drilling, production, and other contentVariousVariousUtah Division Oil, Gas, and Minerals (DOGM)

References

  1. Gloyn, R.W., D.E. Tabet, C.E. Tripp, and C.E. Bishop. 2003. Energy, Mineral, and Ground-Water Resources of Carbon and Emery Counties, Utah. Utah Department of Natural Resources, Utah Geological Survey.  
  2. Carbon County, Utah. n.d. Public Lands Addendum to the Carbon County Master Plan.
  3. San Juan County. 2008. San Juan County Master Plan, March.
  4. Carbon County. 2010. Natural Resource Use and Management Plan Amending the Carbon County Master Plan [2010 Natural Resources Master Plan]. February 2.
  5. U.S. Forest Service. 1986. Manti-La Sal National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.