North Dakota law names fake minerals after coal lawyers by mistake

North Dakota quietly enacted a law that lists several critical minerals that do not exist. Instead, the names appear to match surnames of coal industry lawyers. The mistake surfaced after the bill became law in Bismarck and was flagged by policy analysts reviewing the minerals list. The Bismarck Tribune reported the error on January 5. The law was meant to identify minerals vital to energy and manufacturing. Critical minerals usually include lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements. The listed names fit none of those categories. According to the report, the odd entries trace back to a document supplied by coal interests during the drafting process. The names were copied directly into the bill text without verification. State officials acknowledged the list was wrong and said the minerals were never meant to be taken literally. Lawmakers now plan a technical fix to remove the fake entries. The episode offers a blunt lesson in how legislation can be assembled under pressure. Sometimes, the fine print is not geological at all.