Rangefront Mining Services has been in the mining industry for decades, which means we’ve seen more than our fair share of mining claims. In fact, each year we help our clients renew over 11,000 mining claims. Long story short, we have a lot of experience in claim staking.
You may have already read our previous article, “How to Stake a Mining Claim.” In this article, we discuss some additional frequently asked questions about claim staking.
7 FAQS ABOUT CLAIM STAKING
Here are some of the most common questions we get asked about claim staking.
1. HOW MUCH DOES CLAIM STAKING COST?
As of September 1, 2019, the claim staking fees for a new lode claim includes a processing fee of $20, a location fee of $40, and a maintenance fee of $165. For placer claims, the maintenance fee is for every 20 acres or for a portion of 20 acres. After the initial fee is paid, claim holders will be required to pay the maintenance fee annually by September 1.
2. HOW LONG IS A LAND CLAIM GOOD FOR?
Land claims must be renewed every year and the annual maintenance fee paid to remain active.
3. HOW DO YOU KNOW IF A LAND CLAIM IS OPEN OR NOT?
When you are seeking opportunities for staking a mining claim, you will probably notice posts or monuments marking the corner of a claim—or you may not notice them at all. While claim owners are required to keep these monuments visible and in good repair, there are times when they may be neglected or inconspicuous, making it an unreliable way to find whether the land has an active claim. The best way to know whether an area already has an existing mining claim is to check BLM and County records.
4. CAN I LIVE ON A MINING CLAIM?
No, mining claims do not give you actual ownership over the land or rights to live on the site. Rather, a mining claim is a claim to the mineral rights on the land.
5. DOES A MINING CLAIM GIVE YOU RIGHTS TO MINE ON LAND?
Contrary to the name, a mining claim does not necessarily give you carte blanche to mine in the area. On the National Forest, any activities, including those related to working a claim, that disturb the surface or that require mechanized/motorized equipment (e.g., suction dredges, highbankers, vehicles), require submission of a Notice of Intent to the Forest Service and may require approval of a Plan of Operations. Additional analysis by several specialists may be required before a plan can be approved. This process may take several months or longer. Permits from state agencies may also be needed, especially if water resources are to be used in the mining operation.
6. IS THERE ANY LIMIT TO THE NUMBER OF MINING CLAIMS YOU CAN HAVE?
No, in the United States a claimant may hold any number of mining claims.
7. WHO CAN STAKE A MINING CLAIM?
United States citizens, legal immigrants who have declared their intention to become a citizen, and corporations organized under the laws of any state may make a mining claim. However, the claimant must be of the legal age of discretion under the law of the state of residence. Note: the government considers a corporation the same as a U.S. citizen. An agent may also locate a mining claim on behalf of a claimant.
DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT STAKING A MINING CLAIM?
For additional questions about claim staking, leave a message in the comments below!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
BRIAN GOSS
President, Rangefront Mining Services
Brian Goss brings over 20 years of experience in gold and mineral exploration. He is the founder and President of Rangefront, a premier geological services and mining consulting company that caters to a large spectrum of clients in the mining and minerals exploration industries. Brian is also a director of Lithium Corp. (OTCQB: LTUM), an exploration stage company specializing in energy storage minerals and from 2014 to 2017, he fulfilled the role of President and Director of Graphite Corp. (OTCQB: GRPH), an exploration stage that specialized in the development of graphite properties. Prior to founding Rangefront, Brian worked as a staff geologist for Centerra Gold on the REN project, as well as various exploration and development projects in the Western United States and Michigan. Brian Goss holds a Bachelor of Science Degree with a major in Geology from Wayne State University in Michigan.
You may also be interested in...
What Do Mining Consultants Do?
A successful mining project takes careful planning, expertise, and execution. With increasing focus on environmental regulations, corporate responsibility, political pressure, and more, engaging a mining consultant has become a practical solution to navigating the...
What to Look for in a Mining Recruiting Company
As the weather starts to warm, mining companies are beginning to recruit to fill seasonal contract needs. While some mining companies may use direct recruitment efforts, it’s more common for mining and exploration companies to use a recruiting service. WHAT TO LOOK...
Why Choose Rangefront for Your Mining Consulting Services
Rangefront provides a wide range of mining consulting services to help your project succeed. Whether you’re still in early exploration stages or looking to improve the output of your current project, the experts at Rangefront can help. WHY CHOOSE RANGEFRONT AS YOUR...
What are Mineral Reserves & Mineral Resources?
Mineral resources and mineral reserves are crucial data points in a mining company’s operations. In mining and exploration, the terms “Mineral Resource” and “Mineral Reserve” can be confusing—and are often used incorrectly or even interchangeably. Mineral resources...
Direct-Hire vs. Contract Labor: What are the Differences?
Rangefront offers both direct-hire and contract labor services, but what is the difference and how do you know which you need? THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CONTRACT LABOR AND DIRECT-HIRE IN MINING AND GEOLOGY When our clients tell us they need help with recruitment...
What to Know About Reference Materials in Mining Geology
If you are new to the metals industry; whether that be in exploration or production, you have probably come across or used a Certified Reference Material (CRM), also known as a “standard.” Standards are used in a wide variety of applications and for a variety of...
What is an NI 43-101 & What is it Used For?
An NI 43-101 report is a summary for potential investors of scientific and technical information for a mineral exploration, development, or production project. This report is required for listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) and TSXV. Intended for the investing...
Steps in the Mining Consulting Process
For such an old industry, mining remains relatively enigmatic to new prospectors or early operations in today's economics. With complex geophysical and geochemical testing, ever-changing regulations and claims, reporting and processes, as well as the complications of...
How Much Does Staking a Mining Claim Cost?
There are several fees associated with staking a mining claim. First, claims associated with a new claim must be paid, including a processing fee and location fee. A maintenance fee must be paid within the first 90 days of staking a claim and annually thereafter. NEW...
FAQs About Mineral Exploration
As stated in our blog “8 Steps of Mineral Exploration,” mineral exploration is the process of seeking concentrated deposits of minerals for the purpose of mining these minerals for economic benefit. In this article, we discuss some of the frequently asked questions...
The Role of Soil Sampling in Mineral Exploration
If you’re new to the mining or geology industries, you may have primarily heard of soil sampling for purposes related to engineering, construction, or even gardening. However, soil sampling is an important part of the mineral exploration and mining processes. WHAT IS...
Common Land Staking Questions
Common Land Staking Questions Although the perception of prospecting and mining can sometimes be cartooned as “old-fashioned,” the reality is that land staking and mining are alive and well. While during the late 1800s, mining focused primarily on gold, mining...