5-2-12. Mineral reservation in leases and conveyances of state land.

All sales, leases, and conveyances of lands belonging to the State of South Dakota or to which it may now or hereafter be entitled, including all common school, public buildings, and endowment lands, shall be subject to and contain a reservation to the State of South Dakota of all deposits of coal, ores, metals, and other minerals, asphaltum, oil, gas, geothermal resources, and other like substance in such lands, together with the right to prospect for, mine, and remove the same upon rendering compensation to the owner or lessee for all damages that may be caused by such prospecting or removal. The reserved deposits shall be disposed of only in the manner expressly provided by law.

Source: SL 1919, ch 308, § 1; SDC 1939, § 55.0203; SL 1980, ch 40, § 1.