- 1). Locate a deposit of minerals to lay claim to on federal land not restricted to mining access. Certain federal lands, including national parks, wildlife refuges and military reservations are off-limits to mining.
- 2). Verify that the mineral deposit is on land open to mineral entry. Land status records are maintained by the BLM at their district offices. Also check with your county records for recently filed mining claims. You may not claim mineral rights on lands with existing claims unless the claim has expired.
- 3). Establish rights to the claim by posting notice at the location and filing notices with the county and the BLM. Your location notice establishes your claim to the minerals at that site. You must file notice with the BLM within 90 days of posting notice at the location or your claim is invalid. Your notice must include the date of location, the type of claim and any other information required by state law.
- 4). Once the BLM has received and recorded your location notice they will issue a mining claim serial number. Use this number when filing notices of assessment work or for any other correspondence with the BLM about your claim.
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