Extralateral Right Law and Legal Definition
Extralateral right is a principle under mining law where a miner has a right to claim on public land to mine veins whose tips are present on the surface of the claim even though the veins extend under the surface outside of the claim . Extralateral right is also known as apex rule or intraliminal right.
There are three requirements to be satisfied before claiming extralateral rights:
1. A claim should be located on the public domain,
2. The apex of the mineral vein lies within the boundaries of a claim, and
3. The mineral vein should dip downward from its apex.
Extralateral rights do not apply to placer deposits such as deposits of sand or gravel containing particles of gold, platinum or other valuable minerals because this type of mineral deposit lacks an apex. If a miner locates a claim on federal lands that is covered under public domain lands and the government has not reserved that land for a particular purpose, a miner is entitled to extralateral rights.[Sunshine Mining Co. v. Metropolitan Mines Corp., 111 Idaho 654 (Idaho 1986)]