Dinosaurs fossils considered minerals or not may decide their value

The discovery of two fossilized dinosaur skeletons intertwined at a ranch in Montana has come under court purview to determine whether the fossils are minerals or not. The case could potentially make the couple that owns the ranch rich as the skeletons are said to have a value of more than $5 million. The decision by the court will be very crucial to a dispute regarding the ownership of the dinosaur fossils and the millions of dollars from the sale of other fossils found in the fossil-rich area in the central part of Montana. 

Fossil fights

Marry-Ann and Lige Murray have the rights of the surface and one-third of the mineral rights on the ranch while brothers, Jerry and Robert Severson, have the ownership of two-thirds of the mineral rights after a 2005 property sale. Neither of the parties expected the discovery of a fossil on their property. Court documents show that the fossils have not been mentioned in them.

Read: Scientists Unearth 220 Million-year-old Dinosaur Fossils In Argentina

A long-drawn court case

When the Murrays discovered the fossils, they attempted to sell the find in what they hoped would fetch them a sum of at least $6 million. However, the buyers wanted a guarantee that the Murray's were the true owners of the fossils. This prompted Marry Ann and Lige Murray to seek a court ruling.

A judge in a court in Montana gave a decision back in 2016 that fossils were not included in the basic definition of a mineral because not all fossils with the same mineral composition were considered to be of value. The judge further added that the exact value was based on factors such as completeness of the specimen, species and how well the dinosaur has been preserved.

Read: World's Smallest Monkey: Scientists Find Monkey's Tooth Fossil- Size Of 'a Grain Of Sand', In Amazon Forest

However, Jerry and Robert Severson appealed the decision. A panel of the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in a 2-1 decision gave its decision stating that dinosaur fossils were minerals both scientifically and under mineral rights laws and the lawmakers in 2019, passed an unchallenged measure stating that dinosaur fossils are to be considered a part of the surface estate unless and until there is a different contract.

People have the option of owning things that are found on the land they own while others have the option of owning materials like oil, gas, and coal that is found underneath the surface. However, in cases of property sales, an owner has the option of keeping some or all of the mineral rights.

Read: University Of California To Dump Fossil Fuel Investments

Read: Dinosaur-killing Meteorite Instantly Acidified The Oceans: Study

(With inputs from agencies)