The Law of the Miner

“John Lacy strikes paydirt with this fascinating study of frontier capitalism and the evolution of mining law in the American Southwest. An exhaustive list of Arizona mining districts and their locations, along with full texts of regulations, makes this an indispensable resource for scholars, researchers, and general readers.“—Bruce J. Dinges, coeditor with Bill Broyles of America’s Most Alarming Writer: Essays on the Life and Works of Charles Bowden

“Uncover the origins and evolution of American mining law with John Lacy’s pioneering research. From Spanish roots to federal statutes, Lacy reveals the early miners’ codes and district regulations that shaped an industry. An appendix of extant Arizona mining district regulations, post-1862, make this an indispensable reference for historians, legal scholars, and enthusiasts eager to explore mining’s legal heritage.“—Robert L. Spude, PhD, National Park Service regional historian, Santa Fe (retired)

“John Lacy has written the definitive book on the historical development of mining law in what is now called Arizona. His careful descriptions, together with a comprehensive bibliography of secondary sources, make this a ‘must-have’ book for mining lawyers and scholars alike.“—Stanley Dempsey, geologist, lawyer, investment banker, author of Mining the Summit: Colorado’s Ten Mile District, 1860–1960

John C. Lacy is a mining lawyer and mining law historian who has dedicated his career to analyzing and writing about the contributions of mineral adventurers to the development of the law as it was applied to the acquisition of mineral rights. He graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in journalism in 1964 and a law degree in 1967. Lacy has represented mineral clients throughout the western United States and in South America and has taught mineral law and related subjects at the University of Arizona since 1976. His historical activities include work with the Arizona Historical Society, the Arizona History Convention, and the Society of Mining Law Antiquarians.

The subject of The Law of the Miner came naturally to Lacy as he grew up in the Peruvian mining camp of La Oroya, and during college, he worked as a fieldhand for several mining exploration companies. Presently, he is the director of the Global Mining Law Center at the James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona, where he teaches and supervises several online courses. He also continues to practice law at his firm, DeConcini McDonald Yetwin & Lacy, P.C.