http://www.vijaytapanchal.com/mother-lode/
A Golden Legacy – Placer Gold Claims Explained
Finding the Mother Lode! Striking It Rich! As prospectors, we all have dreams of finding a bonanza while we enjoy the adventure of the hunt. The entire family can share in the fun of prospecting and finding the elusive mineral.
While there are numerous clubs and tourist attractions that offer the recreational prospector an opportunity to look for gold on their properties, if you have a serious case of “gold fever” you will want to purchase or locate your own claim.
Some people mistakenly believe that they can access any public land area and start prospecting just because it’s listed as public land. Think twice, because if you start mining on someone else’s claim, it’s claim jumping. Avoid legal complications, stiff fines and a lot of grief by always verifying claim ownership first.
Owning ones own claims saves a lot of complications. The 1872 Law allows prospectors to buy or stake a claim; an opportunity to create a “real property” asset that you can use yourself to mine gold or lease it to someone else to work the claim for you.
The Mining Law of 1872 directs the federal government’s land management policy. The law grants free access to individuals to prospect for minerals in public domain lands, and allows them, upon making a discovery, to stake a claim on that deposit. One must be a United States citizen to file a claim.
The 1872 Mining Law provides that “The locators of all mining locations made on any mineral vein, lode, or ledge, situated on the public domain, their heirs and assigns, where no adverse claim existed on the 10th day of May 1872, so long as they comply with the laws of the United States, and with State, territorial and local regulations not in conflict with the laws of the United States governing their possessory title, shall have the exclusive right of possession and enjoyment of all the surface included within the lines of their locations.”
Mining claims are in either of two classifications, patented or unpatented. Under the 1872 Mining Law an unpatented claim gives the claimant a property right interest to the minerals in/on the claim and the right to utilize as much of the surface and its resources as is needed to extract the minerals.
The Mining Law of 1872 also establishes a process by which the claimant may bring a claim to patent. When a claim is patented, actual ownership of the minerals and the surface resources pass from the United States Government to the claimant. The 1872 Law states that once a claimed mineral deposit has been determined to be economically recoverable and a specified amount of work has been preformed, the claimant may then file a patent application to both the mineral and the surface rights.
In 1995 Congress enacted a moratorium on the issuance of patents. At the present time new patent applications are not being processed, however grand-fathered applications will be processed. Legislature to rescind the moratorium is presently in congress awaiting a vote and many are hopeful that the patent application process will once again be an option.
In the United States Supreme Court case of Wilbur v. U.S. (ex rel. Krushnic, 280 US 306) (1930). The Supreme Court ruled; “When the location of a mining claim is perfected under the law, it has the effect of a grant by the United States of the right of present and exclusive possession. The claim is property in the fullest sense of the term; and may be sold, transferred, mortgaged, and inherited without infringing any right or title of the United States.”
The right of the owner is taxable by the state; and is “real property”. (State laws vary and it is prudent to be familiar with the laws of the state in which a claim is located.) The claimant/owner is not required to purchase the claim or secure patent from the United States. If a claimant complies with the provisions of the mining laws, his/her possessor’s rights, for all practical purposes of ownership, are as secure as those granted by a patent. In essence, you own the mineral rights and may use as much of the surface as reasonably necessary for mining your property.
If you are the owner of a claim you may chose to mine or not. If you elect to actively prospect, explore, develop and produce the property the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM) must be notified and proper paperwork processed. If you are on federal or state managed lands, be sure to obtain all necessary permits prior to commencing operations. If you plan to actively mine or not, maintaining ownership of your mining claim also requires the filings of the applicable documents and payment of fees annually with the BLM.
Ownership of a mining claim comes with some restrictions. All structures, fences, signs, roads and any man-made changes on the mining claim, must be reasonably incident to mining and included in a Notice or Plan on file with the BLM. If you wish to park an RV, trailer or set up camp on the claim and stay longer than 14 days, this request must be included in your plan of operations. If you are actively working the claim there are no restrictions; however, if your usage is strictly recreational, the 14 day rule may be enforced. If one chooses to actively mine his/her claim, the claimant is allowed to live on the property and may build temporary (and in some cases…permanent) structures if application is made with and approved by the BLM.
The primary purpose of a mining claim is to mine; however, a claim may be used for off-time recreational purposes. You may hunt or fish on the claim; however, be sure to have a state license or permit. A mining claim can also be an excellent base camp for ATV, horseback or snowmobile explorations.
The BLM requires an annual maintenance fee to satisfy assessment requirements. Actual labor can be performed as well to meet the assessment requirements. There also exists a small miners waiver which applies to claimants owning less than 10 mining claims. Once approved the Small Miners Exemption must be filed annually.
Wishing you success in your quest and may your pan always glitter with gold.
About the Author
Marlene Affeld has a passion for the environment and all things natural. A seasoned traveler, Marlene enjoys sharing her experiences with others. Visit Marlene’s site at
Nandu Green
for Eco-Friendly living options.
Mother Lode Crash Sequence
|
|
Loggins & Messina Mother Lode 7″ Reel to Reel Tape $24.99 |
|
|
Grass Valley CA Nevada County Mother Lode Country CHINESE PEDDLER 1924 RPPC $11.99 |
|
|
CamelBak Motherlode 500 Desert Digital Brand New Retail $175.00 $80.00 |
|
|
Mariposa memories: Recollections of a Mother Lode childhood, 1862-1880, Marian J $11.99 |
|
|
REI Mother Lode Lumbar Pack Converts to Shoulder Bag Blue Mint $14.99 |
|
|
MOTHER LODE DVD FREE SHIPPING! $8.80 |
|
|
Mother Lode Kenny Loggins & Jim Messina Music Book $14.39 |
|
|
KEN WANNBERG /THE PHILADELPHIA EXPERIMENT & MOTHER LODE $9.95 |
|
|
Bareback Billie – Female Rowdy Of The Mother Lode $24.99 |
|
|
MOTHERLODE~WHEN I DIE-1969~45 RPM NEW~HEAR IT PLAY $4.95 |
|
|
California gold country;: A great escapes guide for the Mother Lode,, Paul Jones $18.94 |
|
|
8.1 Grains CALIF. MOTHERLODE NATURAL GOLD NUGGET/BULLION $40.50 |
|
|
LEGO MOTHERLODE 1,000′S OF PIECES AND PARTS, FIGURES, AND ACCESSORIES $29.99 |
|
|
Search for the Mother Lode NEW PAL DVD Heston Basinger $26.99 |
|
|
The Mother Lode by Automobile Club of Southern California 1991 $1.99 |
|
|
15.2 Grains 5 CALIF. MOTHERLODE GOLD NUGGET/GEM STONE $76.75 |
|
|
Women’s Voices from the Mother Lode by Susan G. Butruille ~ HISTORY BOOK SC $9.99 |
|
|
Loggins & Messina Mother Lode LP NM vinyl in shrink $4.99 |
|
|
Charlies Angel’s motherlode $45.00 |
|
|
***loggins & messina**mother lode**columbia**8 track tape**sealed** $5.95 |
|
|
Sierra Nevada Gold Country Geology Geologic Guidebook Mother Lode Highway 49 $7.95 |
|
|
1997 METAL UNIVERSE MOTHER LODE KENNY LOFTON VERY RARE! $9.99 |
|
|
1997 METAL UNIVERSE MOTHER LODE MATT WILLIAMS RARE! $9.99 |
|
|
LP – Mother Lode – Loggins & Messina VG+ Columbia Records – 1974 $5.95 |
|
|
1998 Mother Lode Adventist Jr. Acad. Yearbook SonoraCA $19.97 |
|
|
KEN GRIFFEY JR. 1996 METAL RARE “MOTHER LODE” INSERT CARD $0.99 |
|
|
1996 Metal Universe JIM EDMONDS Mother Lode Insert! #2 $2.69 |
|
|
New 5-05 AAA Mother Lode Guide Map California $4.00 |
|
|
LOGGINS & MESSINA Mother Lode VINYL LP 1974 $2.00 |
|
|
Antique Pictorial History Mother Lode Gold Vol 1 Sierra Nevadas Vtg early 1900′s $9.99 |
|
|
Emma Chizzit and the Mother Lode Marauder by Mary Bowen Hall 0373261780 $4.97 |
|
|
MILITARY MANUALS MOTHERLODE – 100 MANUALS ON ONE CD !! $7.99 |
|
|
Elongated Half Dollar – The Mother Lode Highway of California 49, Coloma $1.95 |
|
|
MOTHERLODE, Tapped Out (promo LP) $22.95 |
|
|
Pony Express – Mother Lode Mint 1 oz Bronze Bar #00425 $9.99 |
|
|
Reno Nev. – Mother Lode Mint – 1 oz Bronze Bar # 00493 $9.99 |
|
|
The Famous Concord Stage – Mother Lode Mint – 1oz Bronze Bar # 00451 $9.99 |
|
|
The Prospectors – Mother Lode Mint 1 oz Bronze Bar #00551 $9.99 |
|
|
Mother Lode GOLD SILVER Placer Deposit 195 Gram $0.99 |
|
|
A Salute to Historys Coinage and Mints – Mother Lode Mint 1 oz Bronze Bar #00487 $9.99 |
|
|
New Orleans – Mother Lode Mint – 1 oz Bronze Bar #00429 $9.99 |
|
|
New York City – Mother Lode Mint – 1 oz Bronze Bar #00429 $9.99 |
|
|
The Alamo – Mother Lode Mint – 1 oz Bronze Bar #00487 $9.99 |
|
|
CALAVERITE ORE OF GOLD “ASSAYED” CA MOTHERLODE 14 POUNDS MAKES GREAT JEWELRY $2,000.00 |
|
|
CALAVERITE ORE OF GOLD “ASSAYED” CA MOTHERLODE 3007 GRAMS MAKES GREAT JEWELRY $500.00 |
|
|
CALAVERITE ORE OF GOLD “ASSAYED” CA MOTHERLODE 1855 GRAMS MAKES GREAT JEWELRY $375.00 |
|
|
CALAVERITE ORE OF GOLD “ASSAYED” CA MOTHERLODE 2407 GRAMS MAKES GREAT JEWELRY $500.00 |
|
|
GOLD TELLURIDE GOLD ORE “CA MOTHERLODE” 1510 GRAM SPECIMEN MAKES GREAT JEWELRY $250.00 |
|
|
GOLD TELLURIDE GOLD ORE ” CA MOTHERLODE” 1356 GRAM SPECIMEN MAKES GREAT JEWELRY $250.00 |
|
|
CALAVERITE ORE OF GOLD “ASSAYED” CA MOTHERLODE 1819 GRAMS MAKES GREAT JEWELRY $350.00 |
|
|
Motherlode $2.63 No Description Available.Genre: Soul/R&BMedia Format: Compact DiskRating: Release Date: 17-JUN-2003… |
|
|
Motherlode $2.69 Exclusive Japanese limited edition digitally remastered reissue of this 1974 album, packaged in a miniature LP sleeve. 10 tracks. CBS. 2006…. |
|
|
Make Way For The Motherlode $12.38 … |
|
|
Mother Lode [VHS] It’s a little-known film, but Mother Lode presents some primo examples of large-scale acting from a large-scale movie star: Charlton Heston, then beginning the late-baroque phase of his career. Heston also directed (from a script by his son, Fraser Heston), and he’s clearly having a ball as an old, bearded Scotsman who’s been prospecting for gold at an isolated site in Canada for decades. Like any… |
|
|
Fievel’s American Tails – The Lost Motherlode & That’s What Friends are For [VHS] $0.98 … |
|
|
The Adventures of Smoke Bellew – Complete Miniseries (Stake Your Claim/Gambling On Paradise/Golden Egg/Mother Lode of the Yukon) [VHS] $14.95 … |
|
|
Prison Break: Season Four $22.70 All 22 episodes from the fourth and final season–including “Scylla,” “Greatness Achieved,” “Just Business,” “The Mother Lode,” and “Killing Your Number”–are featured in a six-disc set. 16 hrs. total. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital 5.1; audio commentary on select episodes; featurettes. **22 episodes on 6 discs. 16 hrs.**… |
|
|
The Great Gold Coin Rush $1.99 … |
|
|
Mother Lode $5.99 It’s a little-known film, but Mother Lode presents some primo examples of large-scale acting from a large-scale movie star: Charlton Heston, then beginning the late-baroque phase of his career. Heston also directed (from a script by his son, Fraser Heston), and he’s clearly having a ball as an old, bearded Scotsman who’s been prospecting for gold at an isolated site in Canada for decades. Like any… |
|
|
eBags Mother Lode TLS Weekender Convertible The eBags Mother Lode TLS Weekender Convertible was featured in the bSan Francisco Chronicleb Travel section in December 2009: …Best-of-field award for design, materials and value.brbrQuite possibly the last Travel Pack you may ever need, this Carry-on Convertible is loaded with smart features; bIf your laptop’s middle dimension (width is no more than 11.75, and the longest dimension (length i… |
|
|
Susen Foster Goldplated ‘Mother Lode’ Variscite Earrings $25.09 This fun and happy pair of earrings will brighten your day with goldplated nuggets and rectangles of bright orange variscite. With convenient leverback closures, this pair of earrings will add a unique touch to any style. |
|
|
Loggins & Messina – Mother Lode $6.92 Disc 1:Growin`Be FreeChangesBrighter DaysTime to SpaceLately My LoveMove OnGet a HoldKeep Me in MindFever Dream |
|
|
Mother Lode (DVD) $6.92 255 characters or less! |
|
|
Loggins & Messina – Full Sail/Mother Lode $20.51 Disc 1:DISC 1:LahainaTravelin` BluesMy MusicLove Song, AYou Need a ManComing to YouWatching the River RunPathway to GloryDidn`t I Know You WhenSailin` the WindDisc 2: |
|
|
Charlton Heston Collection: 4 Film Favorites (DVD) $12.8 This four-part package caters to fans of screen idol Charlton Heston, with a quartet of big budget adventure sagas that Heston toplined during the 1970s and `80s. It features: MOTHER LODE (1982), with Heston as twin Scottish miners seeking gold in Brit… |
|
|
Breweries of the Gold Country (Paperback) $16.98 California`s Gold Country, known historically as the Mother Lode, is located in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. It was here that the famous goldfields of the Gold Rush were located. From 1849 onward, thousands of miners flooded into the a… |
|
|
150 Professional Horserace Handicapping Systems (Paperback) $10.41 This carefully selected collection of 150 powerful winning handicapping systems is collected from the best and most powerful horse racing systems from around the world, a veritable mother lode of gold for horse bettors. It would take a king’s ran… |
|
|
Vegan Planet $14.45 With over 400 recipes, this is the mother lode of vegan cookbooks–and Robin Robertson could be considered the leading mother figure in vegan cuisine. She begins with a pep talk about going vegan, including a general discussion of nutrition, the b… |