Open mines doctrine 

Scales of justice
Property law
Part of the common law series
Acquisition
Gift · Adverse possession · Deed
Lost, mislaid, and abandoned property
Treasure trove
Alienation · Bailment · License
Estates in land
Allodial title · Fee simple · Fee tail
Life estate · Defeasible estate
Future interest · Concurrent estate
Leasehold estate · Condominiums
Conveyancing
Bona fide purchaser
Torrens title · Strata title
Estoppel by deed · Quitclaim deed
Mortgage · Equitable conversion
Action to quiet title
Future use control
Restraint on alienation
Rule against perpetuities
Rule in Shelley's Case
Doctrine of worthier title
Nonpossessory interest
Easement · Profit
Covenant running with the land
Equitable servitude
Related topics
Fixtures · Waste · Partition
Riparian water rights
Lateral and subjacent support
Assignment · Nemo dat
Other common law areas
Contract law · Tort law
Wills, trusts and estates
Criminal law · Evidence
v  d  e

The open mines doctrine is a term of real property. Under the open mines doctrine depletion of natural resources constitutes waste unless consumption of such resources constitutes normal use of the land, as in the case of a life estate in coal mine or a granite quarry.

The life tenant cannot open the land to search for minerals and other natural resources, but if the quarries or mines were open before the tenant took the life estate, then it is not waste for the life tenant to continue their use.

The sale of harvestable crops does not constitute waste.

See also

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