2543. Monopoly rare earths...

As we know, the green economy has an appetite for rare minerals that all seem to be owne by monopolies. How does a company  get to have a monopoly on minerals in the ground?  Eighty years ago some legal procedure steals the land from natives. The owner passes the title to the children who then marry and have families and want to sell the land (with still hidden minerals underneath)to get the cash to send their children to  college, A farmer, probably more agribusiness than family, gives permission to a mining company to explore for minerals, Lithium found Complex contracting; local lawyers vs New York lawyers,   and the mining company ends up with the right to mine plus  the contract  excludes others, including the land owner from mining.