Mineral rights questioned on badlands ranch site A Montana man who says he owns mineral rights on part of a North Dakota badlands ranch near where Theodore Roosevelt raised cattle wants to test the site for gravel and possibly an open pit mine. Roger Lothspeich of Miles City, Mont., says that if the U.S. Forest Service wants the area to remain pristine it should "get some more cash." He says gravel deposits are all over the ranch and estimates the gravel is worth millions of dollars. Forest Service district supervisor Ron Jablonski says the agency will determine who owns the gravel and other mineral rights. The Forest Service bought the 5,200-acre former Blacktail Creek Ranch from brothers Kenneth, Allan and Dennis Eberts and their families last year for $5.3 million, with $4.8 million from the federal government and $500,000 from conservation groups....They paid $5.3 million without determining who owned the mineral rights? UPDATE New mineral owner wants gravel from Eberts ranch The U.S. Forest Service did not buy gravel and other mineral rights like uranium when it spent $5.5 million to purchase the Eberts ranch in Billings County, and now new mineral owners want to test for gravel and possibly open a mine pit. Roger Lothspeich of Miles City, Mont., said he'll take his gravel, or he'll take his share of money - he estimates the gravel alone is worth more than $2 million in today's market....