Question 1

What is a mining claim?

Accepted Answer

A mining claim is a parcel of federal public land where an individual or company has asserted the right to extract locatable minerals such as gold, silver, copper, and lithium. Mining claims are filed with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the county where the claim is located. There are two main types: lode claims for hard-rock mineral deposits found in veins or rock formations, and placer claims for minerals found in loose material like sand, gravel, or stream beds. A standard lode claim is up to 1,500 feet long and 600 feet wide (approximately 20.66 acres), while a placer claim can be up to 160 acres for an association or 20 acres for an individual.

Question 2

What are the different types of mining claims?

Accepted Answer

There are three main types of mining claims on federal land: (1) Lode claims cover deposits of minerals found in solid rock veins or formations. They can be up to 1,500 by 600 feet. (2) Placer claims cover mineral deposits in unconsolidated material like stream beds, bench gravels, and alluvial fans. They follow legal subdivisions and can be up to 20 acres per individual or 160 acres for an association. (3) Millsite claims provide non-mineral land for processing operations associated with a lode or placer claim, limited to 5 acres each. Additionally, claims are classified as either unpatented (you hold mining rights but the land remains federal) or patented (full private ownership, though new patents have not been issued since 1994).

Question 3

How do I file a mining claim?

Accepted Answer

Filing a mining claim involves several steps: (1) Locate open federal land that is not already claimed or withdrawn from mineral entry. Use BLM LR2000 or tools like ClaimWatch to verify availability. (2) Physically stake the claim by placing monuments at corners and posting a location notice. (3) File the location notice with the county recorder in the county where the claim is situated, typically within 90 days of staking. (4) File a copy of the location notice with the BLM State Office within 90 days of staking. (5) Pay the initial maintenance fee or file a Small Miner Waiver (if you hold 10 or fewer claims). Fees and specific procedures vary by state, so check your state requirements.

Question 4

How much does a mining claim cost?

Accepted Answer

The cost of a mining claim includes several components: (1) BLM location fee: $43 per claim at the time of filing. (2) BLM annual maintenance fee: $173 per claim per year (due by September 1). (3) County recording fees: vary by county, typically $10-$50 per document. (4) Small Miner Waiver: if you hold 10 or fewer claims, you may file a waiver of the maintenance fee and instead perform $100 worth of assessment work per claim per year. Purchasing an existing claim from a private seller varies widely based on location, mineral potential, and access, ranging from a few hundred dollars to tens of thousands.

Question 5

Can you live on a mining claim?

Accepted Answer

Living on an unpatented mining claim is generally not permitted as a primary residence. The land remains federal property managed by BLM, and occupancy is limited to activities reasonably incident to mining. You may camp temporarily while actively conducting mining operations, but building a permanent residence is not authorized. Regulations under 43 CFR 3715 govern use and occupancy of mining claims and require that any surface use be reasonably related to mineral development. Patented mining claims, where full private ownership was granted, allow residential use because the land is private property. However, the federal government stopped issuing new mining patents in 1994.

Question 6

How long is a mining claim good for?

Accepted Answer

A mining claim remains valid as long as the claimant meets annual maintenance requirements. Each year by September 1, you must either pay the BLM annual maintenance fee ($173 per claim) or file a Small Miner Waiver with proof of assessment work. You must also file an Affidavit of Annual Assessment Work with the county. If you fail to pay fees or file required documents, the claim is deemed abandoned and the land returns to open status. There is no expiration date on a properly maintained claim. Some claims have been continuously held for over 100 years.

Question 7

What is the difference between patented and unpatented mining claims?

Accepted Answer

An unpatented mining claim grants the right to extract minerals from federal public land, but the land itself remains property of the United States. The claimant must pay annual maintenance fees and comply with BLM regulations. A patented mining claim is one where the federal government transferred full title (ownership) of both the surface and mineral rights to the claimant. Patents required proving a valid discovery of a valuable mineral deposit and meeting improvement requirements. Congress imposed a moratorium on new mining patents in 1994, so no new patents can be obtained. Existing patented claims are private property with the same rights as any other privately owned land.

Question 8

How do I look up mining claims?

Accepted Answer

You can look up mining claims through several sources: (1) BLM LR2000 (legacy system) provides serial register pages for individual claims by case number. (2) BLM MLRS (Mining and Land Records System) is the newer replacement being phased in. (3) BLM GeoCommunicator and the National PLSS dataset show claim locations on maps. (4) State geological surveys and mines departments maintain their own databases in many western states. (5) County recorder offices have the original location notices and amendments. (6) ClaimWatch by ChoraQuest consolidates data from multiple sources into a single searchable platform covering 4.4 million claims across 11 western states, with maps, reports, and spatial data.

Question 9

Can you build on a mining claim?

Accepted Answer

On an unpatented mining claim, you can build structures that are reasonably necessary for mining operations, such as storage sheds, equipment shelters, or processing facilities. Any construction must be directly related to the extraction and processing of minerals. Building a cabin, house, or other residential structure for non-mining purposes is not permitted under 43 CFR 3715. A BLM plan of operations may be required for significant surface disturbance. On a patented mining claim, you can build whatever local zoning and building codes allow, since the land is private property.

Question 10

How do mining claims work?

Accepted Answer

Mining claims work under the General Mining Law of 1872, which allows U.S. citizens to locate and claim mineral deposits on open federal public land. The process works as follows: (1) You identify open land with locatable minerals (gold, silver, copper, lithium, etc.). (2) You physically stake the claim and post a location notice. (3) You file the claim with the county and BLM. (4) You maintain the claim by paying annual fees or performing assessment work. (5) The claim gives you the exclusive right to extract minerals from that parcel. Mining claims do not transfer land ownership -- the federal government retains title to the land. Claims can be bought, sold, transferred, or inherited like other property interests.

Question 11

What is a BLM mining claim?

Accepted Answer

A BLM mining claim is a claim filed on federal public land administered by the Bureau of Land Management. BLM manages approximately 245 million acres of public land, primarily in 12 western states. When someone files a mining claim, BLM records the claim in its database (LR2000/MLRS), assigns a serial number, and tracks annual maintenance fees. BLM also reviews plans of operations for mining activities that disturb more than 5 acres, and manages the overall regulatory framework for mining on public lands under 43 CFR Parts 3700-3860.

Question 12

How to buy mining claims?

Accepted Answer

Buying an existing mining claim involves several due diligence steps: (1) Verify the claim is in good standing by checking BLM records for current maintenance fee payments. (2) Review the claim file for any disputes, contests, or pending actions. (3) Examine the county records for the chain of title and any liens. (4) Visit the property to assess access, terrain, and mineral potential. (5) Review any geological data, assay results, or production history. (6) Execute a quitclaim deed transferring the claim interest. (7) Record the deed with the county and file a transfer notice with BLM. Services like ChoraQuest can perform claims research and due diligence to help evaluate a claim before purchase.

Question 13

What is ClaimWatch?

Accepted Answer

ClaimWatch is our mining claims intelligence platform. It delivers complete research packages -- reports, publication-ready maps, Excel workbooks, and GeoJSON spatial data -- for any area of interest across the western United States. Instead of cross-referencing multiple federal and state systems yourself, ClaimWatch consolidates claims data, disposition records, mineral deposits, and land status into a single deliverable.

Question 14

What do I get with a ClaimWatch report?

Accepted Answer

Every ClaimWatch project includes four components: (1) A narrative report in HTML and PDF with executive summary, geological framework, land status findings, and claimant analysis. (2) A publication-ready map with PLSS grid, claim density, mineral deposits, terrain, and professional cartouche. (3) A multi-tab Excel workbook with sortable claims inventory, deposits, claimant roster, and section register. (4) GeoJSON spatial data compatible with ArcGIS Pro, QGIS, and other GIS platforms.

Question 15

What area does ClaimWatch cover?

Accepted Answer

ClaimWatch covers 11 western U.S. states with over 4.4 million claims tracked. Coverage spans every PLSS section in the western states where BLM mining claims are filed. Data is sourced from authoritative public records and verified before delivery.

Question 16

Who uses ClaimWatch?

Accepted Answer

Mining companies use it for project monitoring and competitor tracking. Geologists use it for site selection and prospectivity analysis. Landmen use it for claims research at scale. Investors and acquirers use it for due diligence on mineral asset acquisitions. If you make decisions based on mining claims data, ClaimWatch was built for you.

Question 17

What types of reports are available?

Accepted Answer

Seven report types: (1) Leadfile Examination -- automated BLM mining-claim title examination; enter lead-file numbers and receive a compliance audit across the claim's full life. (2) Entity & Address Investigation -- cross-reference any claimant against every BLM-registered entity at their mailing address to unmask corporate clusters. (3) AY2013 Gap Year Exposure Alert -- surfaces every pre-1993 lode/mill/tunnel claim affected by the FLPMA gap (Pub. L. 112-74). (4) Due Diligence Area Report -- six authoritative datasets joined to your PLSS footprint. (5) Site Selection -- commodity and state in, ranked site recommendations out, backed by USGS mineral data and BLM claim density. (6) Regional Prospecting -- multi-township site selection with cluster analysis and trend rollups. (7) AOI Change Monitoring -- point-in-time change detection for any Area of Interest. Every report ships with a cover letter, Excel workbook, and JSON manifest.

Question 18

How is the data verified?

Accepted Answer

All data is sourced from authoritative public records including BLM LR2000, USGS MRDS, and state geological surveys. Data is verified against source systems before delivery. Federal case records and disposition codes are translated into plain-language narratives so you get context, not just codes.

Question 19

Can I see a sample report before committing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Contact us at contact@choraquest.com or call (337) 351-9834 and we will send you a sample report package -- no commitment required.

Question 20

What is the Leadfile Examination Report?

Accepted Answer

The Leadfile Examination Report is our automated BLM mining-claim title-examination package. You enter one or more BLM lead-file numbers (modern UMC or legacy WMC/CMC/NMC formats), and ClaimWatch produces a multi-tab Excel workbook, a Wolcott-format Word cover letter, and a JSON data manifest. Every required filing under federal mining law is tracked per claim, per assessment year, from location to present: initial recordation, certificates of location, annual maintenance fees with receipt numbers and payment amounts, pre-1993 assessment work, transfers of interest, and AY2013 gap-year exposure. Each cell is color-coded by compliance status (timely, late, late-grace, missing, pending). The report also includes a record-title chain, 3rd-party claim conflicts, per-county run-sheet templates, and litigation/tax search templates. A traditional manual title examination on the same portfolio takes 4-8 weeks. The Leadfile Examination Report gives the examiner Day-1 instead of Week-3.

Question 21

What is the Entity & Address Investigation Report?

Accepted Answer

The Entity & Address Investigation Report takes one entity name and uncovers the full network of related companies and individuals operating at the same address. Mining-claim holders frequently use multiple corporate vehicles (LLCs, holding companies, trusts) registered to the same suite or PO box. The report normalizes addresses, consolidates claim portfolios across all related entities, identifies inter-entity transfers (tagged as intra-cluster, inbound, or outbound), and maps their geographic footprint. Used for M&A target diligence, counterparty risk, beneficial-ownership compliance (FinCEN / Corporate Transparency Act), and litigation discovery. The report searches across 223,382 distinct BLM-registered entities.

Question 22

What is GroundControl?

Accepted Answer

GroundControl is our proprietary seniority and validity analysis tool. It examines existing claim blocks for senior/junior conflicts, DM placement, excluded-lands overlaps, and acreage accounting. Each claim receives an outcome classification with supporting analysis. The output is built for attorney review, not a legal opinion.

Question 23

What is included in an automated staking package?

Accepted Answer

Our automated staking system produces complete, print-ready staking packages including location certificates, corner cards, and maps. It can generate 1,000 staking packages faster than you can prepare one by hand. Packages go from open ground identification to filed certificates in 24-48 hours.

Question 24

What GIS platforms do you work with?

Accepted Answer

We primarily build on Esri ArcGIS Pro and develop custom Python toolboxes for it. We also deliver data compatible with QGIS, Mapbox, Google Earth Engine, and web mapping platforms. Our spatial data exports in GeoJSON, shapefiles, geodatabases, KML, and other standard formats.

Question 25

Can you build custom GIS tools for my workflow?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We build ArcGIS Pro Python toolboxes, web mapping applications, mobile GIS solutions, and enterprise geodatabases. Every tool we build at ChoraQuest started as a solution to a problem on a real project. If you have a repetitive spatial workflow, we can probably automate it.

Question 26

What is the typical turnaround time?

Accepted Answer

Automated staking packages can be delivered in 24-48 hours. ClaimWatch reports typically take 3-5 business days depending on the area size and report type. Custom GIS development timelines vary by scope -- we provide detailed estimates during consultation.

Question 27

What industries do you serve?

Accepted Answer

We serve mining and exploration companies, oil and gas operators, renewable energy developers, industrial development firms, landmen, title professionals, and investors involved in mineral asset acquisitions. Our expertise applies across any sector dealing with land acquisition, mineral rights, or spatial data in the western United States.

Question 28

What is included in your mineral title research services?

Accepted Answer

Our mineral title research includes chain of title investigation, ownership verification, encumbrance identification, rights analysis (surface vs. mineral), and comprehensive reporting. We search county records, BLM databases, and other relevant sources to provide a complete title picture for acquisitions and closings.

Question 29

What file formats do you deliver?

Accepted Answer

Maps are delivered in PDF, TIFF, and PNG. GIS data comes as shapefiles, geodatabases, GeoJSON, or KML. ClaimWatch reports include HTML, PDF, Excel workbooks, and GeoJSON. We tailor deliverables to your existing systems.

Question 30

Can you work with confidential or sensitive data?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We maintain strict confidentiality protocols and sign NDAs as needed. All project data is stored securely with access limited to project team members only.

Question 31

How do I get started?

Accepted Answer

Contact us at contact@choraquest.com or call (337) 351-9834. We will discuss your needs, provide a quote, and outline the timeline. We can typically start work within 1-2 business days.

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