H.R. 3872 — MERICA Act of 2025

This section expands the list of minerals leasable on lands acquired by the United States under the Mineral Leasing Act for Acquired Lands to include hardrock minerals (in addition to coal, phosphate, oil, oil shale, gilsonite, gas, sodium, potassium, and sulfur) by amending 30 U.S.C. 352. It also adds a definition of hardrock mineral to 30 U.S.C. 351 to mean deposits of minerals found in sedimentary or other rocks, base metals, precious metals, industrial minerals, and precious and semi-precious gemstones (excluding coal, oil, oil shale, gas, sodium, potassium, sulfur, and mineral materials under the Materials Act of 1947). (Thus, hardrock minerals—typically subject to location claims under the General Mining Law of 1872 on public domain lands—may now be leased on acquired lands subject to the consent and conditions prescribed by the administering federal official.)