Table Of Content

BLM LIBRARY 88027426 MINING MILL SITES 2nd Edition U. S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Bureau of Land Management California State Office Sacramento, California Special Publication 1991 $4.00 HD 242 373 91 As the Nation's principal conservation agency, the Department of the Interior has responsibility for most of our nationally owned public lands and natural resources. This includes fostering the wisest use of our land and water resources, protecting our fish and wildlife, preserving the environmental and cultural values of our national parks and historical places, and providing for the enjoyment of life through outdoor recreation. The Department assesses our energy and mineral resources and works to assure that their development is in the best interest of all our people. The Department also has major responsibility for American Indian reservation communities and for people who live in island Territories under U. S. administration. BLM-CA-PT-91-021-3833 W & W 9%o yfaXWfy *"),/. 7-^n PATENTING MINING CLAIMS AND MILL SITES IN CALIFORNIA J. R. Evans, Editor BLM StaffAuthors Operations Division: Bobbie J. Baldwin, Public Contact Representative Rose M. Fairbanks, Chief, Locatable Minerals Section Barbara Gauthier-Warinner, Land Law Examiner Charlene W. Ruffner, Cartographic Technician Mineral Resources Division: J. R. Evans, Senior Technical Mineral Specialist California Desert District: R. M. Waiwood, District Geologist U. S. Department of the Interior Report design by Sandy Fox Bureau of Land Management and Vicki Aguon Graphics by May Wakabayashi California State Office Sacramento, California Ed Hastey, State Director Special Publication 1991 « Printedon RecycledPaper U. S. Department ofthe Interior BOW 8OTB8 Bureau ofLand Management California State Office Sacramento, California 2nd Edition PREFACE This book is a must for miners who are serious about patenting their mining claims or mill sites. Mining lawyers and mineral surveyors will also find this book useful. Our first edition was very popular and sold out quickly. The second edition includes new U. S. Forest Service common variety regulations, updated forms in regard to mineral surveys, posting a Notice ofIntent, and an updated list ofmineral surveyors. Also included is a briefdiscussion ofourrequirements regarding reclamation and environmental evaluations, and the updated Federal Code ofRegulations regarding patent applications and adverse claims. We recognize that very few miners have the familiarity ofusing and interpreting the many Federal regulatory requirements for patenting a claim or mill site. So, we have provided you a sequential approach and specific quidance on the preparation ofyourpatent application in California. It incorporates and reflects many years ofprocessing patent applications by BLM experienced professionals. BLM BLM Basically, the book tells you what expects ofyou and what you should expect of in the patenting process. Robert M. Anderson Deputy State Director Mineral Resources 1991 ' The Q SUSANVILLE DISTRICT Public Land UKIAH DISTRICT Susanville Records BASELINE for California • Ukiah Sacramento United States Department ofthe Interior Bureau of Land Management MOUNT DIABLO BASE LINE California State Office BAKERSFIELD DISTRICT California State Office Federal Office Building 2800 Cottage Way, Room E-2811 Bakersfield • Sacramento, CA 96826-1889 (916) 978-4754 CALIFORNIA DESERT DISTRICT Bakersficld District Office Federal Office Building 800 Truxtun Avenue, Room 311 Bakcrsfield, CA 93301-4782 SAN BERNARDINO BASE LINE (806) 861-4191 Riversides Susanville District Office 706 Hall Street Susanville, CA 96130-3730 (916) 257-5381 Ukiah District Office 555 Leslie Street Ukiah, CA 95482 (707) 462-3873 BureauofLandManagement California Desert District PUBLIC 1696 Spruce Street LANDS Riverside, CA 92607-2497 (714) 276-6394 USEaSHARE>»APPRECIATE III UNITEDSTATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT CALIFORNIA DISTRICT BOUNDARIES "^District Boundaries • District Offices State Office 116' 117c ** _ _y _l^^»o r^^ioo lt» IX) iT» K STATUTE MILES IV 1 SOURCES OF GEOLOGIC AND MINING INFORMATION IN CALIFORNIA California Division of Mines and Geology LOS ANGELES 107 S. Broadway (at First Street) Room 1065 Los Angeles, CA 90012 (213)620-3560 PLEASANT HILL 380 Civic Drive, Suite 100 Pleasant Hill, CA 94523 (415)646-5920 SACRAMENTO 660 Bercut Drive Sacramento, CA 95814 (916)445-5716 U.S. Geological Survey (over the counter sales only; see Note below) USGS Public Inquiries Office Customs House, Rm. 504 555 Battery Street San Francisco, CA 941 1 (415)556-5627 USGS Public Inquiries Office 345 Middlefield Road, MS 33 Menlo Park, CA 94025 (415)329-4390 Bureau of Mines Bureau of Mines California - Nevada Liaison Office 1605 Evans Ave. Reno, NV 89512 (702)784-5215 NOTE: Aerial Photographs (vertical black and white photographs of varying scale) 9x9 U.S. Geological Survey semi-gloss contact prints, where available, can be ordered from: NCIC-W, USGS 345 Middlefield Road, MS 32 Menlo Park, CA 94025 (415)328-4309 1 CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION 1 CONCEPT OF DISCOVERY FOR MINING CLAIMS by J.R. Evans and R.M. Waiwood 2 General 2 Definition of Lode and Placer Mining Claims 2 Locatable Minerals 2 Common and Uncommon Varieties of Minerals 3 Discovery 5 Prudent Person Test 5 Marketability Test 5 Other Concepts for the Marketability Test 6 Discovery On Each Claim 7 Discovery on Large Disseminated Gold Deposits 8 Physical Exposure Requirement 9 Mineral In Character, and the 10-Acre Rule for Placer Mining Claims 1 General 11 Style of 10-Acre Subdivision 11 Geologic Inference 11 , Specific Information Required for Showing Discovery 12 VALIDITY OF MILL SITES by J.R. Evans 14 BLM NATIONAL PROGRAM FOR CERTIFICATION OF MINERAL EXAMINERS AND REVIEW MINERAL EXAMINERS By J.R. Evans 15 General 15 Duties 15 Requirements for Certification 15 Certification Process 16 MINERAL SURVEY PROCEDURES by Charlene W. Ruffner 17 General 17 Types of Mining Claims and Mill Sites, and Disseminated Deposits 20 . Lode Mining Claims 20 Placer Mining Claims 20 Disseminated Deposits 23 Mill Sites 23 Mining Districts 27 Application for Mineral Patent Survey 27 Selection of a U.S. Mineral Surveyor 29 Survey Authorization (Order For Survey) 30 Office Examination and Review 30 Approved Patent Survey Plat and Field Notes 32 Good Faith Location 35 VI