Alternative Text Description for Mining - Subsurface Rights (Parcels Derived)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays parcels in Florida where mining subsurface rights have been identified based on generalized land use data derived from 2022 parcel records. The map focuses specifically on locations where subsurface mineral rights for mining purposes exist as a distinct land use classification. This thematic layer extracts and highlights a specific subset of land use data collected by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), showing the geographic distribution of mining-related subsurface rights across the state.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers the entire state of Florida, extending from the panhandle region in the northwest (including Dothan area) to the southern tip near Cape Coral. Major cities labeled on the map include Jacksonville in the northeast, Tallahassee in the north-central region, Gainesville in north-central Florida, Orlando in central Florida, Tampa and St. Petersburg on the west coast, Lakeland in the central region, Palm Coast on the northeast Atlantic coast, Melbourne Palm Bay on the east coast, and Port St. Lucie on the southeast coast. The map shows Florida's distinctive peninsula shape, with the Gulf of America visible along the western and southern coastlines and the Atlantic Ocean along the eastern coast. Portions of neighboring states including southern Georgia and Alabama are visible in the northern extent of the map.

KEY INSIGHTS

Mining subsurface rights parcels are concentrated primarily in central Florida, with the most notable clustering occurring in the greater Orlando area and extending southward through Lakeland. A secondary concentration of parcels appears in the Tampa-St. Petersburg metropolitan area on the west coast. The distribution shows scattered individual parcels and small clusters rather than large contiguous areas, suggesting that subsurface mining rights are held on relatively discrete properties throughout these regions. Northern Florida, including the panhandle and Jacksonville area, shows minimal to no visible mining subsurface rights parcels. Similarly, the southern portion of the peninsula below the Tampa-Orlando corridor shows very limited representation of this land use type. The spatial pattern indicates that mining subsurface rights are geographically focused in Florida's central corridor rather than being evenly distributed statewide.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

Mining - Subsurface Rights (Parcels Derived)

This layer represents individual parcels where subsurface mining rights have been identified as the generalized land use classification, derived from detailed parcel-specific data.

Mining Subsurface Rights Parcels (cross-hatched pattern)

Appearance:

Parcels are displayed with a tan or beige cross-hatched fill pattern consisting of diagonal lines in two directions creating a mesh or grid-like appearance. The pattern provides visual distinction against the light gray background of the base map.

Distribution:

Features are distributed across central Florida with primary concentrations in the Orlando metropolitan area and surrounding counties, as well as notable presence in the Tampa-St. Petersburg region. Scattered individual parcels appear throughout the central peninsula, with very limited representation in northern and southern Florida.

Notable locations:

The greatest concentration of mining subsurface rights parcels occurs in and around Orlando, with significant clusters extending south toward Lakeland. The Tampa area on the west coast shows another prominent grouping. Smaller isolated parcels appear near Gainesville and in scattered locations throughout the central peninsula.

Spatial patterns:

Parcels are distributed in irregular clusters rather than forming continuous zones, suggesting individual property ownership patterns rather than large mining districts. The clustering in central Florida correlates with the state's central ridge and phosphate-rich geological areas. Linear arrangements are not evident, indicating that these rights do not follow transportation corridors or other linear infrastructure patterns.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents a specific thematic extraction from a comprehensive generalized land use dataset that originally contained 99 detailed land use classes collapsed into 17 generalized categories. Only parcels classified under the mining subsurface rights category (generalized land use code 17) are displayed on this map. The dataset reflects a methodology change implemented in 2015 that reclassified certain land use values, though this does not directly affect the mining subsurface rights category shown here. The cross-hatched symbology is derived from the legend description "Parcels Derived," indicating these features represent individual property parcels rather than broader land use zones. Users should be aware that this map shows only one of 17 possible generalized land use categories and does not represent all mining-related activities or surface mining operations that may fall under different land use classifications.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

The data originates from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and is derived from 2022 parcel-specific land use records. The original detailed land use classification system containing 99 land use classes was generalized into 17 broader categories to create this dataset. The specific methodology involved collapsing detailed parcel-level land use codes into simplified generalized classifications for planning and analysis purposes. Data source layer name: LU_GEN_2024.

Definition Query:

The map displays only parcels where the generalized land use code (LUGEN_CODE) equals 17, which corresponds to mining subsurface rights. This filtering criterion extracts a specific subset from the complete generalized land use dataset, excluding all other 16 land use categories.

Scale Information:

The map is displayed at a statewide scale showing the entire state of Florida, appropriate for understanding regional patterns and general distribution of mining subsurface rights parcels. At this scale, individual parcel boundaries may not be precisely delineated, but overall geographic patterns and concentrations are clearly visible.

Coordinate System:

NAD 1983 HARN Florida GDL Albers (WKID 3087).

Time Period of Content:

The data represents land use classifications derived from 2022 parcel records. This is an update to the previous 2021 version of the generalized land use dataset (LU_GEN_2021.shp).

Limitations:

The dataset represents a generalized view of land use, with 99 original categories collapsed into 17 broader classes, which may result in loss of specificity about the precise nature of mining rights or operations. Subsurface rights shown on this map represent land use classifications derived from parcel records and may not reflect all active mining operations or recent changes in land use that occurred after 2022. Users should note that a field name change occurred between versions, with LANDUSE15 now referred to as LUGEN_CODE in the current dataset. As with all parcel-derived data, accuracy depends on the quality and completeness of local property records.

Map Coverage:

The map covers the entire state of Florida from the panhandle region in the northwest to the southern tip of the peninsula, including adjacent coastal waters. Small portions of southern Georgia and southeastern Alabama are visible in the northern extent for geographic context, though no data features are displayed in these neighboring states.

The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.