**TYPES OF MINING CLAIMS AND SITES:** There are two types of mining
claims (lodes and placers) and two types of sites (mill site and tunnel
site).

**Lode Claims:** Deposits subject to lode claims include, classic veins
or lodes having well defined boundaries. They also include other rock in
place bearing valuable minerals and may be broad zones of mineralized
rock. Examples include quartz or other veins bearing gold or other
metallic minerals and large volume but low grade disseminated metallic
deposits. Lode claims are usually described as parallelograms with the
longer side lines parallel to the vein or lode (see Figure 1).
Descriptions are by metes and bounds surveys (giving length and
direction of each boundary line). Federal statute limits their size to a
maximum of 1,500 feet in length along the vein or lode. Their width is a
maximum of 600 feet, 300 feet on either side of the centerline of the
vein or lode. The end lines of the lode claim must be parallel to
qualify for underground extralateral rights. Extra lateral rights
involve the rights to minerals that extend at depth beyond the vertical
boundaries of the claim.

  \
**Placer Claims:** Mineral deposits subject to placer claims include all
those deposits not subject to lode claims. Originally, these included
only deposits of unconsolidated materials, such as sand and gravel,
containing free gold or other minerals. By Congressional acts and
judicial interpretations, many nonmetallic bedded or layered deposits,
such as gypsum and high calcium limestone, are also considered placer
deposits. 

Placer claims, where practicable, are located by legal subdivision (for
example: Township 10 South, Range 11 East, Section 9, SE1/4). The
maximum size of a placer claim is 20 acres per locator (see Figure 2).
An association of two locators may locate 40 acres, and three may locate
60 acres, etc. The maximum area of an association placer claim is 160
acres for eight or more persons.  

The maximum size of a placer claim for corporations is 20 acres per
claim. Corporations may not locate association placer claims unless they
are in association with other private individuals or other corporations
as co-locators.

**Example of Methods of Monumenting Mining Claims Drawing\
of an ideal lode mining claim (Metes and Bound survey method)\
**

![](media/image1.png){width="3.938888888888889in"
height="3.1979166666666665in"}

 

**Most State laws require conspicuous and substantial monuments for\
all types of claims and sites.\
NOTE: Other states have other requirements for monuments. However, it is
BLM policy to not use perforated or uncapped pipe as a monument. Methods
of Describing Placer Mining Claims and Mill Sites examples:\
**

![](media/image2.png){width="3.926388888888889in"
height="1.6347222222222222in"}

![](media/image3.png){width="3.9895833333333335in"
height="4.790972222222222in"}

**Drawing of a section of land showing types of placer mining claims
(PMC) and a mill site (MS).**

**Mill Sites:** A mill site must be located on non-mineral land. Its
purpose is to either (1) support a lode or placer mining claim operation
or (2) support itself independent of any particular claim. A mill site
must include the erection of a mill or reduction works and/or may
include other uses reasonably incident to the support of a mining
operation. Descriptions of mill sites are by metes and bounds surveys or
legal subdivision. The maximum size of a mill site is 5 acres (see
Figure 2).

**Tunnel Sites:** A tunnel site is where a tunnel is run to develop a
vein or lode. It may also be used\
for the discovery of unknown veins or lodes. To stake a tunnel site, two
stakes are placed up to 3,000 feet apart on the line of the proposed
tunnel. Recordation is the same as a lode claim. Some States require
additional centerline stakes (for example, in Nevada centerline stakes
must be placed at 300-foot intervals).  

An individual may locate lode claims to cover any or all blind (not
known to exist) veins or lodes intersected by the tunnel. The maximum
distance these lode claims may exist is 1,500 feet on either side of the
centerline of the tunnel. This, in essence, gives the mining claimant
the right to prospect an area 3,000 feet wide and 3,000 feet long. Any
mining claim located for a blind lode discovered while driving a tunnel
relates back in time to the date of the location of the tunnel site.\
 \
**Federal Lands Open to Mining**\
There are federally administered lands in 19 States where you may locate
a mining claim or site. These States are Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas,
California, Colorado, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana,
Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah,
Washington, and Wyoming. In these States, the BLM manages the surface of
public lands and the Forest Service manages the surface of National
Forest System lands. The BLM is responsible for the subsurface on both
public lands and National Forest System lands.

You may prospect and locate claims and sites on lands open to mineral
entry. Claims may not be staked in areas closed to mineral entry by a
special act of Congress, regulation, or public land order. These areas
are withdrawn from the operation of the mining laws.