How deep into the earth do property owners own?

[NuclearNed]

Lets say that I have a perfectly square 1 acre piece of property. Do I own all the dirt/rocks/minerals/etc. below my property, all the way to the exact center of the planet? I'm assuming that if this is true I would own a very long pyramid-shaped portion of the planet.

 

[Cuda1447]

Until a corporation needs the land under your earth, you own it. As soon as it becomes useful to someone with more money than you, you no longer own it.

 

[rudder]

Not sure how deep, but I was just authorized by the DoD to get an anti-aircraft battery so I can defend my airspace from all intruders.

 

[lozina]

Only to the center of the earth? damn that'll put a damper on my plans for a tunnel straight to China...

 

[Kalmah]

Originally posted by: Cuda1447
Until a corporation needs the land under your earth, you own it. As soon as it becomes useful to someone with more money than you, you no longer own it.

 

[fLum0x]

i wonder how deep people have actually dug into the earth before

 

[artikk]

Originally posted by: fLum0x
i wonder how deep people have actually dug into the earth before

8-10 miles.

 

[Scarpozzi]

Originally posted by: artikk

Originally posted by: fLum0x
i wonder how deep people have actually dug into the earth before

8-10 miles.

WOW!!! WHAT A SHAFT!!! :Q

 

[chambersc]

Originally posted by: Kalmah

Originally posted by: Cuda1447
Until a corporation needs the land under your earth, you own it. As soon as it becomes useful to someone with more money than you, you no longer own it.

ugh.

Originally posted by: Scarpozzi

Originally posted by: artikk

Originally posted by: fLum0x
i wonder how deep people have actually dug into the earth before

8-10 miles.

WOW!!! WHAT A SHAFT!!! :Q

That's what she said.

 

[BrokenVisage]

Originally posted by: chambersc

Originally posted by: Kalmah

Originally posted by: Cuda1447
Until a corporation needs the land under your earth, you own it. As soon as it becomes useful to someone with more money than you, you no longer own it.

ugh.

laff.

 

[ultimatebob]

This vaguely sounds like a Simpsons episode...

 

[rbV5]

Lets say that I have a perfectly square 1 acre piece of property. Do I own all the dirt/rocks/minerals/etc. below my property,

Most Western States recognize seperate ownership of Surface Estate and Mineral Estate, so just because you own the surface real estate, doesn't automatically mean you also own the mineral rights below your property.

 

[amish]

i thought that it depended on the state. i heard that in pennsylvania you only own the "topsoil" and that any mineral/gas deposits were not really owned by you. this is because many deposits that were bought by mining companies can span several miles and underneath an individuals property. then again i might be wrong.

 

[sao123]

Originally posted by: NuclearNed
Lets say that I have a perfectly square 1 acre piece of property. Do I own all the dirt/rocks/minerals/etc. below my property, all the way to the exact center of the planet? I'm assuming that if this is true I would own a very long pyramid-shaped portion of the planet.

In the real-estate world, this is known as the deed of mineral rights.
If you own them, they would be included in your deed for your plot of land. If it's not, you dont own them.

Often times (as in my area) the coal mines & gas companies bought all the mineral rights for 100's of square miles (so they own all the coal & natural gas), back in the 60's & 70's. This mean that most homeowners in my area do not own the ground underneath the surface land plot they own. If you are curious about a plot of land, you should be able to check in the court records of real-estate for your area.

 

[slackerinabox]

i've heard many dumb questions posted here but, well, this one's got me. What made you think of this one? Cool question!

 

[IceBergSLiM]

Originally posted by: artikk

Originally posted by: fLum0x
i wonder how deep people have actually dug into the earth before

8-10 miles.

Link or shens!

 

[artikk]

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim

Originally posted by: artikk

Originally posted by: fLum0x
i wonder how deep people have actually dug into the earth before

8-10 miles.

Link or shens!

Text
"Geological programs for drilling far into the succeeding Ocean Drilling Program, completed in 1983 and the succeeding Ocean Drilling Program, are also of importance to geophysicists (see Ocean and Oceanography); the world's deepest well---already more than 12,000 m (40,000 ft) deep---is being drilled in the Kola Peninsula, in northern Russia."

 

[IceBergSLiM]

Originally posted by: artikk

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim

Originally posted by: artikk

Originally posted by: fLum0x
i wonder how deep people have actually dug into the earth before

8-10 miles.

Link or shens!

Text
"Geological programs for drilling far into the succeeding Ocean Drilling Program, completed in 1983 and the succeeding Ocean Drilling Program, are also of importance to geophysicists (see Ocean and Oceanography); the world's deepest well---already more than 12,000 m (40,000 ft) deep---is being drilled in the Kola Peninsula, in northern Russia."

interesting. Now how thick is the upper crust of the earth?

 

[DnetMHZ]

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim

Originally posted by: artikk

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim

Originally posted by: artikk

Originally posted by: fLum0x
i wonder how deep people have actually dug into the earth before

8-10 miles.

Link or shens!

Text
"Geological programs for drilling far into the succeeding Ocean Drilling Program, completed in 1983 and the succeeding Ocean Drilling Program, are also of importance to geophysicists (see Ocean and Oceanography); the world's deepest well---already more than 12,000 m (40,000 ft) deep---is being drilled in the Kola Peninsula, in northern Russia."

interesting. Now how thick is the upper crust of the earth?

http://quake.usgs.gov/research/structure/CrustalStructure/

 

[artikk]

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim

Originally posted by: artikk

Originally posted by: IcebergSlim

Originally posted by: artikk

Originally posted by: fLum0x
i wonder how deep people have actually dug into the earth before

8-10 miles.

Link or shens!

Text
"Geological programs for drilling far into the succeeding Ocean Drilling Program, completed in 1983 and the succeeding Ocean Drilling Program, are also of importance to geophysicists (see Ocean and Oceanography); the world's deepest well---already more than 12,000 m (40,000 ft) deep---is being drilled in the Kola Peninsula, in northern Russia."

interesting. Now how thick is the upper crust of the earth?

Text
Oceanic crust is different from that of the continents. The oceanic crust is 5 to 10 km thick and is composed primarily of a dark, dense rock called basalt. The continental crust is 20-70 km deep and is composed of a variety of less dense rocks.

 

[ArchCenturion]

In a related question, Can you own the air and space above your home? It would become infinitely larger as you move upward in to space, but once in space, you would constantly be moving with the earths rotation, and revolutions. This could also mean that every once in awhile you would own part of the moon, or sun for a time.

 

[Cuda1447]

Originally posted by: ArchCenturion
In a related question, Can you own the air and space above your home? It would become infinitely larger as you move upward in to space, but once in space, you would constantly be moving with the earths rotation, and revolutions. This could also mean that every once in awhile you would own part of the moon, or sun for a time.

I already bought it all.

 

[swtethan]

to the earths core, so start digging!

 

[chambersc]

Originally posted by: ArchCenturion
In a related question, Can you own the air and space above your home? It would become infinitely larger as you move upward in to space, but once in space, you would constantly be moving with the earths rotation, and revolutions. This could also mean that every once in awhile you would own part of the moon, or sun for a time.

Yes. Some upscale condos in NY sell air rights to the heli pads on top of them.

 

[AbsolutDealage]

Originally posted by: ArchCenturion
In a related question, Can you own the air and space above your home? It would become infinitely larger as you move upward in to space, but once in space, you would constantly be moving with the earths rotation, and revolutions. This could also mean that every once in awhile you would own part of the moon, or sun for a time.

You only own the airspace above your property that you may reasonably use in connection with your enjoyment of the underlying land (U.S. v. Causby, 1946)