20-ACRE GOLD MINING CLAIM WITH 1500 FEET OF SOUTH FORK LITTLE JOE CREEK - ONLY 20 MINUTES FROM ST. REGIS MONTANA - ADJOINING CLAIM TO #12!!
SF LITTLE JOE CREEK GOLD #11
MT106697469
WHERE ARE YOU MINING THIS YEAR?
CHECK OUT THIS INCREDIBLE 20-ACRE GOLD MINING CLAIM ON THE SOUTH FORK LITTLE JOE CREEK – IN THE RENOWNED GOLD PRODUCING AREA OF CEDAR, JOE AND TROUT CREEKS!
RECLAMATION DREDGING IS NOW OPEN IN OREGON AND THE CURRENT PRICE OF GOLD IS OVER $2690 AN OUNCE - A GREAT TIME TO OWN A GOLD MINE!
WE ARE ALSO OFFERING THE ADJOINING CLAIM, SF LITTLE JOE CREEK GOLD #12 AS WELL – PICK THEM BOTH UP FOR AN AMAZING 40-ACRE CLAIM!
This is a once-in-a-lifetime mining claim along the fabled SF Little Joe creek, the epic center of the major gold strikes in Mineral County Montana. This amazing 20-acre claim is sandwiched between patented claims, a whole host of other Past Producing mines and unpatented mining claims held since the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s.
The discovery of gold and the ensuing stampede into Mineral County's Cedar Creek gulch took place more than 100 years ago. Time has dimmed much of the story, but it is known that Cedar had all the elements of greed, violence and rowdiness found in gold mining camps.
French-Canadian Louis Barrette, disgusted with his luck in the Northern Idaho gold fields and looking around for better prospect enroute to the largely French-Canadian settlement of Frenchtown, Barrette rode parallel of the St. Joe River to its headwaters in the Coeur d'Alene Mountains. As he followed along the summit trail, he spotted a basin on the Montana side that looked promising, to his gold prospector's eye.
It was not until the next fall that Barrette finally returned. He and his partner, Basil Lanthier, climbed into the steep, cedar-crowded gulch with several pack and saddle horses loaded with enough supplies to last them several weeks. Their departure from Frenchtown was not a secret, thus many eyes would be watchful for any indications that their trip was a success. And indeed, they did find gold, on October 9, 1869.
Somehow (there are various versions) the news slipped and the rush was on. Once word got past Frenchtown, men (there were no women in Cedar, Little Joe, and Trout creek areas this early) poured in from all over the territory, Northern Idaho, the surrounding states and even the West Coast. The news of the strike traveled so fast that it is estimated that 1,000 men from Idaho and Montana wintered at the gulch. From Missoula one correspondent to the "New North-West" wrote, "Missoula has been wild for a week." The result, he said, was that "Hotel keepers, merchants, clerks, idle men and loafers, all are gone..."
This frantic mob rushing into such an isolated spot presented some very real problems in the way of lack of shelter and food shortages. Packers soon poured into the snow-packed drainage with beans (50 cents a pound), bacon (75 cents a pound) and gumboots ($18 a pair). Housing was of the roughest sort-canvas shelters and brush hovels. The territory's papers warned the determined stampedists to go "well clad, blanketed and pursed."
But food shortages and inclement weather could not shake loose those who suffered from gold fever and in a few weeks the gulches was staked out with anywhere from 1,700 to 2,500 claims.
By summer, the high water receded in the creeks and the nearby Missoula (now Clark Fork) River, and sluicing of the winter's diggings began. Although the merchants and saloonkeepers were raking in the most money, the miners scratched out enough gold to stay alive, and some even more.
It is said that over 3,000 men visited the place within the first year. The 1870 census of the area showed 1,587 white people, 30 Chinese, 20 Indians, and nine Blacks. A total of 50 saloonkeepers and nine bartenders were listed. The 1870 census, coincidentally the gold rush's most prosperous period, reveals the miners' real and personal property amounted to about $340,000. At least this was the claimed value. Since miners are known to be tight-lipped about their yields, the actual amount was probably much higher.
But by summer the steep, ravine-sided Louiseville became area's hub, leaving the lower town to the brushfires that burned away most of its traces. Hurdy-gurdy houses, gambling dens, four bankers anxious to profit on an exchange of gold dust into greenbacks, shootouts -all were part of Louiseville's panorama. Men like Hugh O’Neal, John Ritchie, Alex Mayhew and W.J. McCormick all who hailed from Virginia City, added to the colorful scene.
Yet, even Louiseville, with its fancy two-story Louiseville House, hotel, assorted restaurants, 14 saloons and "two houses of ill-fame" succumbed to the same fate as Cedar Junction. As the year passed, the 600 to 1,000 in population pushed upstream or across the ridges. Miners became increasingly convinced that the paying gold deposits lay in the upper gulch. Many of Louiseville's 200 buildings lost their timbers to the flumes that later lined the creek.
A letter from 'Norman' to the Missoula and Cedar Creek "Pioneer," published in Missoula by Joseph Magee and I.H. Morison, described his town, saying:
"In every direction windlasses, shaft-houses, piles of mining timbers meet the eye; while walking through the town, one must pursue a serpentine course to avoid the huge piles of headings, or dumps of pay-dirt that obstruct the main, and only, street of the place."
Claim Name: SF LITTLE JOE CREEK GOLD #11
Claim Number: MT106697469
Coordinates:
NW: 47.238858711631806, -115.1886214666693
NE: 47.23749998887632, -115.18721289911326
SE: 47.235811503802, -115.19249966387163
SW: 47.23666658491323, -115.19450022952448
Even though gold production dropped off precipitously after 1942, it was due to the young men having to go to war, the gold is still in the river and the ground, just waiting to be found.
NOTE You are bidding on 100% ownership of the entire claim.
Here's what the winning bidder will receive:
* Exclusive mineral rights to the land - as long as you keep up with the maintenance payments to BLM yearly, it cannot be taken away from you.
* A notarized quitclaim deed sent via UPS/FedEx with tracking information within 7 days of the winning bid and full payment received
* Paper and Digital map along with precise directions to your new claim!
* A new metal claim sign
* Our assistance - we're always happy to help and answer questions!
NOTE: You are welcome to visit the claim to do some sample panning yourself - only "Hands and Pans". Other methods remove way too much 'free' gold. Before you visit you need to email us your contact information including phone number and what you intend to do on the claim. If all sounds above board, we will email you approval - and you're off to the races!
IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT AN UNPATENTED MINING CLAIM IS AND WHAT YOU WOULD BE BIDDING ON SPECIFICALLY, PLEASE REACH OUT AND ASK. The winning bid does NOT own the land, an "Unpatented Mining Claim" means you own the "Mineral Rights" to the land and NOT the land itself. The land itself is still owned by the Federal Government. All paperwork is current and has been filed with the BLM and county the claim is located in. You are responsible for knowing all the rules and regulations of what you are bidding on. If you have the successful bid, we will assume you know exactly what you bid on and will hold the bidder to paying for the claim.
You are allowed to prospect the surface material of your claim including panning, sluicing, dry washing, metal detecting, and rock hounding for all precious metals and minerals (not just gold).
As with ALL UNPATENTED MINING CLAIMS on Forest Service land, you must file a "Plan of Operation" for any extensive mining operations beyond casual prospecting with the U.S. Forest Service.
All paperwork and fees are current through September 1st, 2025. It is registered with BLM and recorded with the county as well.
You may not sell "sand and gravel" from your claim, only precious metals, and minerals. Check with the Bureau of Land Management if in doubt.
You may not build a personal residence of any kind.
You cannot (at this time)"patent" this, or any unpatented mining claim. Which means you cannot purchase the land from the Government for residential use. Mining claim "patents" have not been granted since 1992 and will take an act of Congress to do so again.
You may camp on your claim for two weeks if not prospecting, and you may camp virtually as long as you want if you are actively prospecting. Always check with BLM about extended camping related to prospecting. You can also recreate, hunt, quad, swim, horseback ride and do any activity besides prospect.
Once a placer claim is staked and filed with the proper agencies, it must be maintained on an annual basis. Proof that it is properly maintained must be filed with the appropriate County, and State office of the BLM on or before 12 noon, September 1st of each year.
Mining Claims are considered "real property" and as such, can be sold, leased, and transferred to family members. As long as you complete your paperwork and pay your yearly fees on time, your mining claim CANNOT be taken from you.
The owner of an unpatented mining claim may either, pay the annual $200.00 yearly maintenance fee or, perform a minimum of $100 worth of annual labor or improvements (EXAMPLE: Road improvement, clearing overgrown vegetation from access road, trash removal, etc.) on each claim by filing a Small Miners Waiver. You may file this waiver if you own 10 claims or less nationwide. (Check with the BLM for that fee amount.)
PAYMENT arrangement is due within 24 hours of the successful bid. We now accept Debit Card, Major Credit Cards, Zelle, Cash App, Venmo, Cashier's Check, Personal Check and Money Orders for payment. If paying by check, we will hold the quitclaim deed for 7 business days until payment clears both banks. If a payment agreement is struck, a non-refundable 25% good faith deposit will be required along with the payment terms.
We are real miners and prospectors and love to chat about all things gold mining and prospecting! Feel free to reach out to Mac at 425.476.0131
SF LITTLE JOE CREEK GOLD #11
MT106697469
WHERE ARE YOU MINING THIS YEAR?
CHECK OUT THIS INCREDIBLE 20-ACRE GOLD MINING CLAIM ON THE SOUTH FORK LITTLE JOE CREEK – IN THE RENOWNED GOLD PRODUCING AREA OF CEDAR, JOE AND TROUT CREEKS!
RECLAMATION DREDGING IS NOW OPEN IN OREGON AND THE CURRENT PRICE OF GOLD IS OVER $2690 AN OUNCE - A GREAT TIME TO OWN A GOLD MINE!
WE ARE ALSO OFFERING THE ADJOINING CLAIM, SF LITTLE JOE CREEK GOLD #12 AS WELL – PICK THEM BOTH UP FOR AN AMAZING 40-ACRE CLAIM!
This is a once-in-a-lifetime mining claim along the fabled SF Little Joe creek, the epic center of the major gold strikes in Mineral County Montana. This amazing 20-acre claim is sandwiched between patented claims, a whole host of other Past Producing mines and unpatented mining claims held since the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s.
The discovery of gold and the ensuing stampede into Mineral County's Cedar Creek gulch took place more than 100 years ago. Time has dimmed much of the story, but it is known that Cedar had all the elements of greed, violence and rowdiness found in gold mining camps.
French-Canadian Louis Barrette, disgusted with his luck in the Northern Idaho gold fields and looking around for better prospect enroute to the largely French-Canadian settlement of Frenchtown, Barrette rode parallel of the St. Joe River to its headwaters in the Coeur d'Alene Mountains. As he followed along the summit trail, he spotted a basin on the Montana side that looked promising, to his gold prospector's eye.
It was not until the next fall that Barrette finally returned. He and his partner, Basil Lanthier, climbed into the steep, cedar-crowded gulch with several pack and saddle horses loaded with enough supplies to last them several weeks. Their departure from Frenchtown was not a secret, thus many eyes would be watchful for any indications that their trip was a success. And indeed, they did find gold, on October 9, 1869.
Somehow (there are various versions) the news slipped and the rush was on. Once word got past Frenchtown, men (there were no women in Cedar, Little Joe, and Trout creek areas this early) poured in from all over the territory, Northern Idaho, the surrounding states and even the West Coast. The news of the strike traveled so fast that it is estimated that 1,000 men from Idaho and Montana wintered at the gulch. From Missoula one correspondent to the "New North-West" wrote, "Missoula has been wild for a week." The result, he said, was that "Hotel keepers, merchants, clerks, idle men and loafers, all are gone..."
This frantic mob rushing into such an isolated spot presented some very real problems in the way of lack of shelter and food shortages. Packers soon poured into the snow-packed drainage with beans (50 cents a pound), bacon (75 cents a pound) and gumboots ($18 a pair). Housing was of the roughest sort-canvas shelters and brush hovels. The territory's papers warned the determined stampedists to go "well clad, blanketed and pursed."
But food shortages and inclement weather could not shake loose those who suffered from gold fever and in a few weeks the gulches was staked out with anywhere from 1,700 to 2,500 claims.
By summer, the high water receded in the creeks and the nearby Missoula (now Clark Fork) River, and sluicing of the winter's diggings began. Although the merchants and saloonkeepers were raking in the most money, the miners scratched out enough gold to stay alive, and some even more.
It is said that over 3,000 men visited the place within the first year. The 1870 census of the area showed 1,587 white people, 30 Chinese, 20 Indians, and nine Blacks. A total of 50 saloonkeepers and nine bartenders were listed. The 1870 census, coincidentally the gold rush's most prosperous period, reveals the miners' real and personal property amounted to about $340,000. At least this was the claimed value. Since miners are known to be tight-lipped about their yields, the actual amount was probably much higher.
But by summer the steep, ravine-sided Louiseville became area's hub, leaving the lower town to the brushfires that burned away most of its traces. Hurdy-gurdy houses, gambling dens, four bankers anxious to profit on an exchange of gold dust into greenbacks, shootouts -all were part of Louiseville's panorama. Men like Hugh O’Neal, John Ritchie, Alex Mayhew and W.J. McCormick all who hailed from Virginia City, added to the colorful scene.
Yet, even Louiseville, with its fancy two-story Louiseville House, hotel, assorted restaurants, 14 saloons and "two houses of ill-fame" succumbed to the same fate as Cedar Junction. As the year passed, the 600 to 1,000 in population pushed upstream or across the ridges. Miners became increasingly convinced that the paying gold deposits lay in the upper gulch. Many of Louiseville's 200 buildings lost their timbers to the flumes that later lined the creek.
A letter from 'Norman' to the Missoula and Cedar Creek "Pioneer," published in Missoula by Joseph Magee and I.H. Morison, described his town, saying:
"In every direction windlasses, shaft-houses, piles of mining timbers meet the eye; while walking through the town, one must pursue a serpentine course to avoid the huge piles of headings, or dumps of pay-dirt that obstruct the main, and only, street of the place."
Claim Name: SF LITTLE JOE CREEK GOLD #11
Claim Number: MT106697469
Coordinates:
NW: 47.238858711631806, -115.1886214666693
NE: 47.23749998887632, -115.18721289911326
SE: 47.235811503802, -115.19249966387163
SW: 47.23666658491323, -115.19450022952448
Even though gold production dropped off precipitously after 1942, it was due to the young men having to go to war, the gold is still in the river and the ground, just waiting to be found.
NOTE You are bidding on 100% ownership of the entire claim.
Here's what the winning bidder will receive:
* Exclusive mineral rights to the land - as long as you keep up with the maintenance payments to BLM yearly, it cannot be taken away from you.
* A notarized quitclaim deed sent via UPS/FedEx with tracking information within 7 days of the winning bid and full payment received
* Paper and Digital map along with precise directions to your new claim!
* A new metal claim sign
* Our assistance - we're always happy to help and answer questions!
NOTE: You are welcome to visit the claim to do some sample panning yourself - only "Hands and Pans". Other methods remove way too much 'free' gold. Before you visit you need to email us your contact information including phone number and what you intend to do on the claim. If all sounds above board, we will email you approval - and you're off to the races!
IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT AN UNPATENTED MINING CLAIM IS AND WHAT YOU WOULD BE BIDDING ON SPECIFICALLY, PLEASE REACH OUT AND ASK. The winning bid does NOT own the land, an "Unpatented Mining Claim" means you own the "Mineral Rights" to the land and NOT the land itself. The land itself is still owned by the Federal Government. All paperwork is current and has been filed with the BLM and county the claim is located in. You are responsible for knowing all the rules and regulations of what you are bidding on. If you have the successful bid, we will assume you know exactly what you bid on and will hold the bidder to paying for the claim.
You are allowed to prospect the surface material of your claim including panning, sluicing, dry washing, metal detecting, and rock hounding for all precious metals and minerals (not just gold).
As with ALL UNPATENTED MINING CLAIMS on Forest Service land, you must file a "Plan of Operation" for any extensive mining operations beyond casual prospecting with the U.S. Forest Service.
All paperwork and fees are current through September 1st, 2025. It is registered with BLM and recorded with the county as well.
You may not sell "sand and gravel" from your claim, only precious metals, and minerals. Check with the Bureau of Land Management if in doubt.
You may not build a personal residence of any kind.
You cannot (at this time)"patent" this, or any unpatented mining claim. Which means you cannot purchase the land from the Government for residential use. Mining claim "patents" have not been granted since 1992 and will take an act of Congress to do so again.
You may camp on your claim for two weeks if not prospecting, and you may camp virtually as long as you want if you are actively prospecting. Always check with BLM about extended camping related to prospecting. You can also recreate, hunt, quad, swim, horseback ride and do any activity besides prospect.
Once a placer claim is staked and filed with the proper agencies, it must be maintained on an annual basis. Proof that it is properly maintained must be filed with the appropriate County, and State office of the BLM on or before 12 noon, September 1st of each year.
Mining Claims are considered "real property" and as such, can be sold, leased, and transferred to family members. As long as you complete your paperwork and pay your yearly fees on time, your mining claim CANNOT be taken from you.
The owner of an unpatented mining claim may either, pay the annual $200.00 yearly maintenance fee or, perform a minimum of $100 worth of annual labor or improvements (EXAMPLE: Road improvement, clearing overgrown vegetation from access road, trash removal, etc.) on each claim by filing a Small Miners Waiver. You may file this waiver if you own 10 claims or less nationwide. (Check with the BLM for that fee amount.)
PAYMENT arrangement is due within 24 hours of the successful bid. We now accept Debit Card, Major Credit Cards, Zelle, Cash App, Venmo, Cashier's Check, Personal Check and Money Orders for payment. If paying by check, we will hold the quitclaim deed for 7 business days until payment clears both banks. If a payment agreement is struck, a non-refundable 25% good faith deposit will be required along with the payment terms.
We are real miners and prospectors and love to chat about all things gold mining and prospecting! Feel free to reach out to Mac at 425.476.0131
SF LITTLE JOE CREEK GOLD #11
MT106697469
WHERE ARE YOU MINING THIS YEAR?
CHECK OUT THIS INCREDIBLE 20-ACRE GOLD MINING CLAIM ON THE SOUTH FORK LITTLE JOE CREEK – IN THE RENOWNED GOLD PRODUCING AREA OF CEDAR, JOE AND TROUT CREEKS!
RECLAMATION DREDGING IS NOW OPEN IN OREGON AND THE CURRENT PRICE OF GOLD IS OVER $2690 AN OUNCE - A GREAT TIME TO OWN A GOLD MINE!
WE ARE ALSO OFFERING THE ADJOINING CLAIM, SF LITTLE JOE CREEK GOLD #12 AS WELL – PICK THEM BOTH UP FOR AN AMAZING 40-ACRE CLAIM!
This is a once-in-a-lifetime mining claim along the fabled SF Little Joe creek, the epic center of the major gold strikes in Mineral County Montana. This amazing 20-acre claim is sandwiched between patented claims, a whole host of other Past Producing mines and unpatented mining claims held since the late 1800’s to the early 1900’s.
The discovery of gold and the ensuing stampede into Mineral County's Cedar Creek gulch took place more than 100 years ago. Time has dimmed much of the story, but it is known that Cedar had all the elements of greed, violence and rowdiness found in gold mining camps.
French-Canadian Louis Barrette, disgusted with his luck in the Northern Idaho gold fields and looking around for better prospect enroute to the largely French-Canadian settlement of Frenchtown, Barrette rode parallel of the St. Joe River to its headwaters in the Coeur d'Alene Mountains. As he followed along the summit trail, he spotted a basin on the Montana side that looked promising, to his gold prospector's eye.
It was not until the next fall that Barrette finally returned. He and his partner, Basil Lanthier, climbed into the steep, cedar-crowded gulch with several pack and saddle horses loaded with enough supplies to last them several weeks. Their departure from Frenchtown was not a secret, thus many eyes would be watchful for any indications that their trip was a success. And indeed, they did find gold, on October 9, 1869.
Somehow (there are various versions) the news slipped and the rush was on. Once word got past Frenchtown, men (there were no women in Cedar, Little Joe, and Trout creek areas this early) poured in from all over the territory, Northern Idaho, the surrounding states and even the West Coast. The news of the strike traveled so fast that it is estimated that 1,000 men from Idaho and Montana wintered at the gulch. From Missoula one correspondent to the "New North-West" wrote, "Missoula has been wild for a week." The result, he said, was that "Hotel keepers, merchants, clerks, idle men and loafers, all are gone..."
This frantic mob rushing into such an isolated spot presented some very real problems in the way of lack of shelter and food shortages. Packers soon poured into the snow-packed drainage with beans (50 cents a pound), bacon (75 cents a pound) and gumboots ($18 a pair). Housing was of the roughest sort-canvas shelters and brush hovels. The territory's papers warned the determined stampedists to go "well clad, blanketed and pursed."
But food shortages and inclement weather could not shake loose those who suffered from gold fever and in a few weeks the gulches was staked out with anywhere from 1,700 to 2,500 claims.
By summer, the high water receded in the creeks and the nearby Missoula (now Clark Fork) River, and sluicing of the winter's diggings began. Although the merchants and saloonkeepers were raking in the most money, the miners scratched out enough gold to stay alive, and some even more.
It is said that over 3,000 men visited the place within the first year. The 1870 census of the area showed 1,587 white people, 30 Chinese, 20 Indians, and nine Blacks. A total of 50 saloonkeepers and nine bartenders were listed. The 1870 census, coincidentally the gold rush's most prosperous period, reveals the miners' real and personal property amounted to about $340,000. At least this was the claimed value. Since miners are known to be tight-lipped about their yields, the actual amount was probably much higher.
But by summer the steep, ravine-sided Louiseville became area's hub, leaving the lower town to the brushfires that burned away most of its traces. Hurdy-gurdy houses, gambling dens, four bankers anxious to profit on an exchange of gold dust into greenbacks, shootouts -all were part of Louiseville's panorama. Men like Hugh O’Neal, John Ritchie, Alex Mayhew and W.J. McCormick all who hailed from Virginia City, added to the colorful scene.
Yet, even Louiseville, with its fancy two-story Louiseville House, hotel, assorted restaurants, 14 saloons and "two houses of ill-fame" succumbed to the same fate as Cedar Junction. As the year passed, the 600 to 1,000 in population pushed upstream or across the ridges. Miners became increasingly convinced that the paying gold deposits lay in the upper gulch. Many of Louiseville's 200 buildings lost their timbers to the flumes that later lined the creek.
A letter from 'Norman' to the Missoula and Cedar Creek "Pioneer," published in Missoula by Joseph Magee and I.H. Morison, described his town, saying:
"In every direction windlasses, shaft-houses, piles of mining timbers meet the eye; while walking through the town, one must pursue a serpentine course to avoid the huge piles of headings, or dumps of pay-dirt that obstruct the main, and only, street of the place."
Claim Name: SF LITTLE JOE CREEK GOLD #11
Claim Number: MT106697469
Coordinates:
NW: 47.238858711631806, -115.1886214666693
NE: 47.23749998887632, -115.18721289911326
SE: 47.235811503802, -115.19249966387163
SW: 47.23666658491323, -115.19450022952448
Even though gold production dropped off precipitously after 1942, it was due to the young men having to go to war, the gold is still in the river and the ground, just waiting to be found.
NOTE You are bidding on 100% ownership of the entire claim.
Here's what the winning bidder will receive:
* Exclusive mineral rights to the land - as long as you keep up with the maintenance payments to BLM yearly, it cannot be taken away from you.
* A notarized quitclaim deed sent via UPS/FedEx with tracking information within 7 days of the winning bid and full payment received
* Paper and Digital map along with precise directions to your new claim!
* A new metal claim sign
* Our assistance - we're always happy to help and answer questions!
NOTE: You are welcome to visit the claim to do some sample panning yourself - only "Hands and Pans". Other methods remove way too much 'free' gold. Before you visit you need to email us your contact information including phone number and what you intend to do on the claim. If all sounds above board, we will email you approval - and you're off to the races!
IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT AN UNPATENTED MINING CLAIM IS AND WHAT YOU WOULD BE BIDDING ON SPECIFICALLY, PLEASE REACH OUT AND ASK. The winning bid does NOT own the land, an "Unpatented Mining Claim" means you own the "Mineral Rights" to the land and NOT the land itself. The land itself is still owned by the Federal Government. All paperwork is current and has been filed with the BLM and county the claim is located in. You are responsible for knowing all the rules and regulations of what you are bidding on. If you have the successful bid, we will assume you know exactly what you bid on and will hold the bidder to paying for the claim.
You are allowed to prospect the surface material of your claim including panning, sluicing, dry washing, metal detecting, and rock hounding for all precious metals and minerals (not just gold).
As with ALL UNPATENTED MINING CLAIMS on Forest Service land, you must file a "Plan of Operation" for any extensive mining operations beyond casual prospecting with the U.S. Forest Service.
All paperwork and fees are current through September 1st, 2025. It is registered with BLM and recorded with the county as well.
You may not sell "sand and gravel" from your claim, only precious metals, and minerals. Check with the Bureau of Land Management if in doubt.
You may not build a personal residence of any kind.
You cannot (at this time)"patent" this, or any unpatented mining claim. Which means you cannot purchase the land from the Government for residential use. Mining claim "patents" have not been granted since 1992 and will take an act of Congress to do so again.
You may camp on your claim for two weeks if not prospecting, and you may camp virtually as long as you want if you are actively prospecting. Always check with BLM about extended camping related to prospecting. You can also recreate, hunt, quad, swim, horseback ride and do any activity besides prospect.
Once a placer claim is staked and filed with the proper agencies, it must be maintained on an annual basis. Proof that it is properly maintained must be filed with the appropriate County, and State office of the BLM on or before 12 noon, September 1st of each year.
Mining Claims are considered "real property" and as such, can be sold, leased, and transferred to family members. As long as you complete your paperwork and pay your yearly fees on time, your mining claim CANNOT be taken from you.
The owner of an unpatented mining claim may either, pay the annual $200.00 yearly maintenance fee or, perform a minimum of $100 worth of annual labor or improvements (EXAMPLE: Road improvement, clearing overgrown vegetation from access road, trash removal, etc.) on each claim by filing a Small Miners Waiver. You may file this waiver if you own 10 claims or less nationwide. (Check with the BLM for that fee amount.)
PAYMENT arrangement is due within 24 hours of the successful bid. We now accept Debit Card, Major Credit Cards, Zelle, Cash App, Venmo, Cashier's Check, Personal Check and Money Orders for payment. If paying by check, we will hold the quitclaim deed for 7 business days until payment clears both banks. If a payment agreement is struck, a non-refundable 25% good faith deposit will be required along with the payment terms.
We are real miners and prospectors and love to chat about all things gold mining and prospecting! Feel free to reach out to Mac at 425.476.0131