Are sand mining rights part of a franchise?

A franchise involves ownership of a system of operation of a specific product, equipment, trade patent or service mark that grants other individuals or businesses the authority to conduct the same business activities in a pre-specified manner in a specific area and period of time. Sand mining refers to the extraction and processing of sand and gravel resources as they exist in nature, and is not a business model formed on the basis of a specific product, equipment, trade patent or service mark. By definition, sand mining does not fit within the scope of what is traditionally covered by a franchise.