CHAPTER 642

An Act to amend and reenact § 55-154 of the Code of Virginia, relating
to presumption that no minerals exist on certain lands. CH 587]

Approved March 31, 1956

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That § 55-154 of the Code of Virginia be amended and reenacted
as follows:

§ 55-154. In any case when a claim to minerals, coals, oils, ores or
subsurface substances, in, on or under lands in this Commonwealth, except
lands lying west of the Blue Ridge mountains other than counties having
a population of more than thirty thousand but less than thirty-one thou-
sand, of more than fifteen thousand seven hundred but tess than sixteen
thousand, and of more than twenty-six thousand six hundred and seventy
but less than twenty-six thousand eight hundred or in the case of manga-
nese ores only in counties having a population of more than twenty-one
thousand three hundred and less than twenty-one thousand nine hundred
or in any county having a population of more than forty-three thousand
but less than fifty thousand, or the right to enter such land for the pur-
pose of exploring, mining, boring and sinking shafts for such minerals,
coals, oils, ores or subsurface substances is derived or reserved by any
writing made thirty-five years or more prior to the institution of the suit
hereinafter mentioned, and

(a) Such right to explore or mine has not for a like period been
exercised and for a like period the person having such claim or right has
never been charged with taxes thereon but all the taxes on the land have
been charged to and paid by the person holding the land subject thereto,
and for a like period no deed of bargain and sale of such claim or reserva-
tion in such mineral rights in the lands embraced in such claim has been
recorded in the clerk’s office of the county wherein the lands are located; or

(b) When the right to explore and mine has been exercised and the
minerals, coals, oils, ores and subsurface substances in or on the land
have been exhausted and the right of mining or boring has been abandoned
for a like period;

It shall be prima facie presumed that no minerals, coals, oils, ores or
subsurface substances exist in, on or under such land.
2. An emergency exists and this act is in force from its passage.