Determine Land Status

Before you can locate or "stake" a claim, one must determine if the lands are open to mineral entry.  No claims can be staked in areas closed to mineral entry under certain acts, regulations, or public land orders. The BLM refers to these as withdrawn lands. Colorado land and mineral status records are available to research in the Public Room.  Many of these records are also available on-line at the BLM, General Land Office Federal Land Patents site. 

On federal land open to mineral entry, one may prospect and properly locate claims and sites. If the land has already been claimed, you may want to find another location. Information on unpatented mining claims can be obtained in BLM's LR2000 System .

To assist in your research, we have BLM Surface Management and Surface & Mineral Management  maps (1:100,000 scale) which depict surface ownership and federally owned mineral rights.  These maps may be purchased for $4.00, additional infomation is available on the Map Information site.   

Stake the Claim

The mining claim corners must be clearly marked or staked.  Federal law requires that claim corners must be distinctly and clearly marked to be readily identifiable.

Colorado law requires additional stakes, the state requirements for marking boundaries is explained in the Circular No.3.

Figure 1. Example of Methods of Monumenting Mining Claims. Drawing of an ideal lode mining claim (Metes and Bounds survey method).

Figure 2. Most state laws require conspicuous and substantial monuments for all types of claims and sites.

Note: It is BLM policy to not use perforated or uncapped pipe as a monument.

Record the Certificate of Location

Recording of a mining claim or site is documented on a certificate of location. In Colorado there is no official form designed for this purpose. Claimants may use forms available through other states, or create a certificate of location to meet the state and federal requirements. The federal reulations (43 CFR 3833.11) state that a location certificate must include the following information:

(1) The name or number, or both, of the claim or site;

(2) The names and current mailing addresses of the locators of the claim;

(3) The type of claim or site;

(4) The date of location; and

(5) A complete description of the lands you have claimed.

(c) When you record a notice or certificate of location, you must pay a processing fee, location fee, and initial maintenance fee.

All certificates of location must be recorded at the county recorder's office in which the claim is located and the BLM Colorado State Office (Circular No.3 & 43 CFR 3833.11).

In Colorado, the deadline for recording certificates of location in the county clerk and recorder's office from the date the claim is located is 30 days if it's a placer claim, and 90 days if it's a lode claim.

The deadline to file certificates of location with the BLM Colorado State Office, from the date the claim is located is 90 days for all claims and sites.  

Additional information can be found in the downloadable brochure Mining Claims and Sites on Federal Lands. The brochure may also be requested by contacting us through our website, and by email at co_info@blm.gov.

Other Helpful Links:

Abandoned Mine Lands

Abandoned Mine Lands Site Mapper

BLM General Land Office Records

BLM LR2000 System

Location Certificate Forms (forms may be changed to indicate state in which the claim is located):

• Nevada Commission on Mineral Resources, Division of Minerals
• Arizona Department of Mines and Mineral Resources

State of Colorado regulations on locating mining claims and sites (Circular No.3).

Mining Claims and Sites Frequently Asked Questions