- Mining and dredging activities are overseen by the Mining Law of 1872, which allows the public to seek metallic and non-metallic minerals on public lands, according to the U.S. Department of the Interior's Bureau of Land Management website. The federal law also regulates exploration and development projects by mining companies.
- People interested in gold mining, or dredging, as a hobby are not required to notify the Bureau of Land Management as long as they use hand tools or pan for minerals by hand. They are not allowed to use motorized equipment or chemicals.
- Colorado has 23,000 inactive or abandoned mines that contain deadly gases, dangerous explosives and unsafe roofs, the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety reports on its website. It warns against exploring those mines because of safety reasons.
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