TL;DR
A North Dakota statute listing critical minerals included two fabricated names — friezium and stralium — that appear to reference attorneys linked to the coal industry. One of the lawyers named in the apparent reference has denied responsibility for inserting the fictitious entries.
What happened
A law passed in North Dakota last year that defines the state's critical minerals list contains at least two entries that are not real minerals. The items, identified in the statute as friezium and stralium, seem to be play-on names tied to coal-industry attorneys who worked on or supported the bill. David Straley, an attorney for North American Coal who is pictured speaking at a March 27, 2025, hearing on the measure, told reporters he and colleagues did not add those names. News coverage highlighted the bill text and flagged the suspect terms; the reporting included photos of lawmakers and a screenshot of the statute with the entries highlighted. The apparent insertion of fictional mineral names has drawn attention to the drafting and review process behind the legislation, though the published account does not detail how the terms were added or whether corrections have been pursued.
Why it matters
- Errors in statutory language can create confusion about policy intent and implementation for regulators and industry.
- The presence of names resembling industry lawyers raises questions about drafting practices and outside influence on legislation.
- Factual inaccuracies in law text may require formal correction, amendment, or legal clarification to avoid downstream disputes.
Key facts
- A North Dakota law approved last year includes friezium and stralium in its definition of critical minerals.
- Friezium and stralium are not recognized as actual critical minerals.
- The names appear to reference coal-industry attorneys who were involved with the bill.
- David Straley, attorney for North American Coal, spoke at a March 27, 2025 hearing and said he was not responsible for adding the fake names.
- The reporting included a screenshot of the bill text with the suspect names highlighted.
- Photographs accompanying the report show lawmakers in May 2025 during related legislative activity.
- The story was reported by Jacob Orledge for the North Dakota Monitor and published in early January 2026.
- The article raised concerns about how the fictional entries entered the statutory language but does not trace the drafting process in detail.
What to watch next
- Whether the North Dakota Legislature or state agencies move to correct or amend the statute (not confirmed in the source).
- Any official review or explanation of how friezium and stralium were inserted into the bill text (not confirmed in the source).
- Potential legal or administrative actions prompted by the drafting irregularity (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- Critical minerals: Minerals considered important for economic and national security, often used in high-tech, defense, and energy applications.
- Statute: A law enacted by a legislative body.
- Legislative drafting: The process of preparing and writing the text of bills and statutes for consideration by lawmakers.
- Amendment: A formal change or addition proposed or made to a law or legislative bill.
- Lobbyist: An individual or organization that seeks to influence public policy or legislation on behalf of a special interest.
Reader FAQ
Are friezium and stralium real minerals?
According to the report, friezium and stralium are not actual critical minerals.
Who inserted the fake names into the law?
Not confirmed in the source.
Did the lawyer whose name appears in the reference admit adding the terms?
David Straley denied responsibility for adding the fake names, per the reporting.
Will the law be corrected?
Not confirmed in the source.
TOP STORY SPOTLIGHT North Dakota law lists fake critical minerals based on coal lawyers’ names JACOB ORLEDGE North Dakota Monitor Jan 2, 2026 4 David Straley, attorney for North American…
Sources
- North Dakota law lists fake critical minerals based on coal lawyers' names
- North Dakota law accidentally lists fake critical minerals …
- North Dakota Law Accidentally Lists Fake Minerals
- North Dakota Law Accidentally Lists Fake Critical Minerals …
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