could I.. IN THEORY, dig down say 100 miles?
my clever wifey came up with the question!
2006-09-02 00:09:23 · 28 answers · asked by zebra 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
In the US, when you own property, you generally own what's called "Surface Rights". This is down to about 300 feet depending on local laws. Mineral rights are generally considered to be minable or drillable assets below your property. Unless you bought these when you bought your property, you don't own them. They are either owned by the government or they are owned by oil/mining companies and investors. I have 140 Acres in Texas. I own the surface rights and 25% of the mineral rights. The rest is owned by the previous land owner and Union Pacific Resources.
You can buy mineral rights to other people's land like any other real-estate deal, but they're hard to get. Usually anything that has any value to it is owned by others already.
If you don't own mineral rights, anyone has the right to drill a well under your property without your consent. But they have to settle a deal with you if they need to cross your property or drill on your property.
2006-09-02 00:43:27 · answer #1 · answered by Moose 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I can only answer for the UK but when you own the freehold you own all the way up to the atmosphere and all the way down to the core. However, the modern world has required certain inroads into that namely
- mineral deposits cannot be owned by anyone except the crown
- cannot prevent water, sewage, gas and electricity pipes and wires being placed on your land
- aeroplanes have an implied licence to use your airspace which you cannot revoke, they cannot remain there however eg those air balloons used for adverts
Other than that as long as your activity is permitted by law you can use your land how you please, as long as it does not disturb anyone else.
2006-09-05 06:39:33 · answer #2 · answered by Lesbecky 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Irrespective of mineral rights, local/national laws etc you cannot even in theory dig down a hundred miles. The maximum thickness of the Earth's solid surface is about 40 miles and that is under the highest mountains. In most places it is barely 20 miles thick, after that you're into magma.
2006-09-02 11:52:50 · answer #3 · answered by narkypoon 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes you could dig down as far as you like, BUT, the temperature will increase by 35ºC for every km that you descend. The pressure on the side will increase substantially so you will have to engineer some pretty strong retaining walls, you will have a lot of spoil to get rid off and a lot of water to pump out, and if you come across any valuable minerals, then they belong to the Crown.
2006-09-02 07:23:25 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No you do not. I have heard of this becoming a legal matter. I live in a mining town where gold is the main product. There are thousands of houses. But the mineral rights are owned by only a few. You may own the surface but sombody else probably own whats underneath
2006-09-05 14:07:08 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In theory yes, but what would you do with it. If you intend to build anything in it you would need planning permission. If you did it so the whole world could see what you did people would go to the local authorities and you could have to fill it in on the grounds of a public eyesore. However you do legally own all the land beneath you
2006-09-06 03:42:09 · answer #6 · answered by DaGetz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An interesting extension of this question is seen in deep mineral exploration: mining rights generally do extend to the centre of the Earth in most countries, and that has implications for very deep mining.
Some of the South African gold mines are so deep, that they have to take into account that the area of their lease actually gets smaller the deeper they go (reducing to zero at the centre); If you mine at great depth right up to the edge of your lease according to the ground plan, you are in fact claim-jumping!
2006-09-03 06:12:37 · answer #7 · answered by Paul FB 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe not. In the UK, you don't have an automatic right to the minerals on your land so you can stop dreaming about doing a Jed Clampit. Any treasure you might dig up will not necessarily come to you, either.
2006-09-02 07:46:19 · answer #8 · answered by Jellicoe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Im sorry to dissapoint you but in Scotland you do not own the rights to any mineral deposits, gas oil or coal discovered within your property these are still owned by the crown. It may be the same in England.
2006-09-02 07:25:49 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, about to the core. Beyond that, it belongs to the other hemisphere! Seriously though, you own as much as the government says you do. Ever hear of a scary law called Imminent Domain?
2006-09-02 17:38:14 · answer #10 · answered by Koklor 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋