Back to the resource library The Last American Dinosaur: The 1872 Mining Law March 24, 2000 Download The 1872 Mining Law is the last vestige of public resource giveaways originally enacted to encourage the settlement of the western U.S. See All Related Resources Earthworks 2022 Campaign Plan Earthworks 2021 Annual Report Safety First: Executive Summary Safety First: Guidelines for Responsible Mine Tailings Management