"Mineral interest," for the purpose of this subdivision, means an interest in any minerals, including but not limited to gas, coal, oil, or other similar interest in real estate, which is owned separately and apart from the fee title to the surface of such real property. Mineral interests which are recorded in the office of either the county recorder or registrar of titles, whether or not filed pursuant to sections 93.52 to 93.551, are taxed as provided in this subdivision unless specifically excluded by this subdivision. A tax of 40 cents per acre or portion of an acre of mineral interest is imposed and is payable annually. If an interest is a fractional undivided interest in an area, the tax due on the interest per acre or portion of an acre is equal to the product obtained by multiplying the fractional interest times 40 cents, computed to the nearest cent. However, the minimum annual tax on any mineral interest is $3.20. No such tax on mineral interests is imposed on the following:
Unmined iron ore included in class 5, paragraph (b), must be assessed with and as a part of the real estate in which it is located, but its net tax capacity would be as established in section 273.13, subdivision 31. The real estate in which iron ore is located, other than the ore, must be classified and assessed in accordance with the provisions of the appropriate classes. In assessing any tract or lot of real estate in which iron ore is known to exist, the assessable net tax capacity of the ore exclusive of the land in which it is located, and the assessable net tax capacity of the land exclusive of the ore must be determined and set down separately and the aggregate of the two must be assessed against the tract or lot.
Minn. Stat. § 273.165
1Sp1985 c 14 art 4 s 68; 1987 c 268 art 6 s 32; 1988 c 719 art 5 s 27, 84; 1989 c 329 art 13 s 20; 1Sp1989 c 1 art 2 s 11; 1994 c 587 art 5 s 12; 2005 c 4 s 34