30 U.S.C. § 22 : US Code - Section 22: Lands open to purchase by citizens

Search 30 U.S.C. § 22 : US Code - Section 22: Lands open to purchase by citizens

Except as otherwise provided, all valuable mineral deposits in
lands belonging to the United States, both surveyed and unsurveyed,
shall be free and open to exploration and purchase, and the lands
in which they are found to occupation and purchase, by citizens of
the United States and those who have declared their intention to
become such, under regulations prescribed by law, and according to
the local customs or rules of miners in the several mining
districts, so far as the same are applicable and not inconsistent
with the laws of the United States.