Discovery, location, recordation, and assessment work for mining claims and sites in California

84 Pages·1993·4.5 MB·English

by  Evans, J. R

88048029
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4th Edition
U. S. DEPARTMENTOF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Land Management
California State Office
Sacramento, California
1993
TECHNICAL PUBLICATION
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Work
Discovery, Location, Recordation, and Assessment
for Mining Claims and Sites in California
4th Edition
J.R. Evans, Editor
BLM Staff Authors
Operations Division: Rose M. Fairbanks, Chief, Locatable Minerals Section
Barbara Gauthier-Warinner, Land Law Examiner
Larry Weitzel, Land Records Specialist
Mineral Resources Division: J.R. Evans, Senior Technical Mineral Specialist,
J.R. Hamilton, Mining Engineer
California Desert District: R.M. Waiwood, District Geologist
U. S. Department of the Interior
Bureau of Land Management
Report design by ^$
Vicki Aguon
Graphics by
May Wakabayashi
California State Office
Sacramento, California
Processing by
Heidi Porter
BLM/CA/PT-94/004+3850
Ed Hastey, State Director
%
Printedon recycledpaper

DISCOVERY
U. S. Department of the Interior
CATION
I*Q
RECORDATION AND
ASSESSMENT -WORK
FOR MINING- CLAIMS
IN CALIFORNIA
Bureau of Land Management
California State Office
4th Edition Sacramento, California
PREFACE
This book is a must for miners who are serious about locating mining claims ormill sites. Min-
ing lawyers and mineral surveyors will also find this book useful. Our first three editions were
very popular and sold out quickly.
This fourth edition has been revised extensively and includes new and updated directories and
forms along with an updated section on discovery. Also included is an expanded section on
requirements regarding reclamation and environmental considerations formining claims.
We recognize that very few miners have the familiarity ofusing and interpreting the many
Federal regulatory requirements for locating claims or mill sites. So, we have provided you a
sequential approach and specific quidance on doing so. It incorporates and reflects many years
BLM
ofprocessing appropriate notices and affidavits by experienced professionals.
BLM BLM
Basically, the book tells you what expects ofyou and what you should expect of in
our mining claim processing procedures.
Robert M. Anderson
Deputy State Director
Mineral Resources
1993

Contents
Page
The Concept of Discovery 1
Introduction 1
Definition of Lode and Placer Mining Claims 1
Locatable Minerals
1
Common and Uncommon Varieties of Minerals 1
Discovery 3
Prudent Person Test 3
Marketability Test 4
Timing Concepts for the Marketability Test 5
Discovery on Each Claim 7
Discovery on Large Disseminated Gold Deposits 7
Physical Exposure Requirement 8
Mineral In Character, and the 10-Acre Rule for Placer Mining Claims 11
General 11
Style of 10-Acre Subdivision 12
Specific Information Required for Showing Discovery 12
Government Mineral Reports on Valuable Mineral Deposits (Discovery) 13
Validity of Mill Sites 13
Location of Mining Claims and Sites 15
Introduction 15
Lands Open to Mineral Entry 15
Who May Locate Mining Claims and Sites 15
Requirements for Mining Claim and Site Locations 16
General 16
Marking Claim and Site Boundaries 16
Lode Mining Claims and Notices (California) 19
Placer Mining Claims and Notices (California) 23
Elongate and Gulch Placer Mining Claims 27
Placer Mining Claims in Powersite Withdrawals 27
Mill Sites and Notices (California) 28
Tunnel Sites and Notices (California) 31
A Word of Caution 35
Overfiling (Claim Jumping) 35
Proper Location by Lode, or Placer Mining Claim 35
Location of Lode Over Placer Mining Claims and the Reverse 36
Amended Locations and Relocations 36
Recordation (Filing) of Mining Claims and Sites 37
Introduction 37
Filing Periods for Mining Claim and Site Recordation 37
Location Notices and Filing Fees 37
BLM Processing of Location Notices 38
Transfer of Interest (Quitclaiming) 39
Abandonment or Relinquishment 39
in
Contents (cont'd)
Page
Assessment Work and Appropriate Affidavit and Notices 39
Introduction 39
Assessment Work 39
Type of Assessment Work That Will Qualify 41
Type of Assessment Work That Will Not Qualify 42
Assessment Work Affidavit (California) 42
Assessment Work Year and Filing Year 46
Intention to Hold a Mining Claim or a Mill or Tunnel Site 46
Failure to Perform Assessment Work and Filing Requirements 48
Failure of a Co-owner to Contribute to Annual Assessment Work 48
Affidavits of Assessment Work for Claim Under Patent Application 49
Deferment of Assessment Work 49
Mining and Reclamation Plans 49
General 49
Preparation and Review of Plans 50
Bonding Policy 50
Other Agencies 52
Mining Claim Occupancy 53
Manuals, Handbooks, Instruction Memoranda, Guidance 53
Patenting a Mining Claim 55
Types and Availability of Records in BLM Offices 55
Introduction 55
Surface and Mineral Ownership Maps 55
Land Status Records 56
Master Title Plats (MTP) 56
Historical Index (HI) 56
Control Document Index (CDI) 56
Survey Plats and Field Notes 56
Mining Claim Indices 60
Computer Listing 64
Case Files 64
Selected References 65
IV
.
Illustrations
Page
Maps
M-1 Geologic Map, Grade Map, and Cross Sections, Cherokee Ore Body,
Mesquite Gold Mine 9
M-2 Geologic Map, Grade Map, and Cross Section, McLaughlin Gold Mine 10
Figures
F-1 Average Monthly and Yearly Gold Prices 6
F-2 Methods of Describing and Monumenting Mining Claims and
Mill Sites in California 18
F-3 Diagrams Showing Arrangement of Townships, Ranges,
Sections, and Subdivisions of Sections 20
F-4 U.S. Geological Survey Topographic Map with Added Sketches of
Hypothetical Mining Claims and Sites 24
F-5 Ideal Tunnel Site Location Showing an Encountered Blind Vein
and Subsequently Located Lode Mining Claim 32
F-6 Improperly and Properly Located 120 Acre Association Placer Claims 40
F-7 Diagram Showing the Relationship of Assessment Work Year to
Filing ("Calendar") Year for Mining Claims 47
F-8 Sample Township (MTP) Plat 57
Tables
T-1 Outline of Possible Topics in a Validity Mineral Report 14
T-2 Surface Management Regulations Regarding Exploration and Mining Operations 51
.
T-3 Abbreviations of Records and Legend of Symbols 58
T-4 Sample Historical Index 59
T-5 Mining Claim Serial Number Index 60
T-6 Mining Claim Name Index 61
T-7 Mining Claim Claimant Index 62
T-8 Mining Claim Geographic Index 63
Forms
FM-1 Lode Mining Claim Location Notice (California) 21-22
FM-2 Placer Mining Claim Location Notice (California) 25-26
FM-3 Mill Site Location Notice (California) 29-30
FM-4 Tunnel Site Location Notice (California) 33-34
FM-5 Affidavit of Assessment Work (California) 43-45
Attachments
Page
1 The Public Land Records for California 66
2 County Recorders in California 67
3 Sources of Geologic and Mining Information in California 68
4 National Forests in California 69
5 California Regional Water Quality Control Boards 70
6 California Department of Fish and Game Offices 71
VI