2016 New York Laws
PBL - Public Lands
Article 7 - (Public Lands) MINES, MINERALS AND METALS
81 - Minerals subject to state ownership; exploration of mines on state lands.

 81. Minerals  subject  to  state  ownership; exploration of mines on
  state lands.  1. The following minerals are the property of  the  people
  of the state of New York in their right of sovereignty:
(a) All deposits of gold and silver in or upon private lands and lands
  belonging  to  the  state heretofore or hereafter discovered within this
  state.
(b) All deposits of  minerals  and  fossils  heretofore  or  hereafter
  discovered  in or upon any lands belonging to the people of the state of
  New York.
2. The commissioner of general services may, upon written  application
  by  any  citizen of the United States, issue to such applicant a permit,
  consent, or  lease  of  such  duration  as  the  commissioner  may  deem
  advisable,  upon  such  terms  and  conditions as the commissioner shall
  determine, to enter upon state lands, for the purpose of  exploring  for
  mines  and  minerals  or  for  the purpose of breaking up such lands and
  working any mine or extracting any mineral in such lands.
In the case of state lands other than unappropriated state lands,  the
  state  department, agency, commission or institution having jurisdiction
  over such lands shall  receive  notice  from  the  commissioner  of  any
  application to explore, break-up or mine, and shall have a period of not
  less  than thirty days to report thereon in writing to the commissioner,
  and no permit, consent or lease shall be issued until  such  report  has
  been  received  or  the  thirty day period has expired, and shall not be
  effective until approved by the governor.