Location Notice
The official document posted at a mining claim and filed with authorities to establish claim rights.
Detailed Definition
A location notice is the official document that establishes a mining claim. It must be posted at the claim site and recorded with both the county and the BLM to perfect claim rights.
Required information on location notices: - Name of the claim - Name(s) of locator(s) - Date of location - Type of claim (lode, placer, mill site, tunnel site) - Legal description (PLSS or metes and bounds) - Number of acres claimed - Description of claim boundaries
Posting requirements: - Conspicuously displayed at discovery monument - Protected from weather (waterproof container) - Clearly legible - Must remain posted while claim is active
Filing requirements: - County recording: typically within 90 days of location - BLM filing: within 90 days of location - BLM location fee: $50 per claim (2025)
State variations: Individual states may have additional requirements: - Specific notice dimensions or format - Additional information requirements - Shorter filing deadlines - State agency filings
Proper location notice procedures are essential to establish valid claim rights from the date of location.
Related Terms
Mining Claim
A parcel of land for which a claimant has asserted a right of possession and the right to develop and extract mineral resources.
BLM
The Bureau of Land Management, the federal agency that administers public lands including mining claim filings and maintenance.
Claim Staking
The physical and legal process of establishing a mining claim, including monumentation, posting notices, and filing with authorities.
Discovery
The finding of a valuable mineral deposit within the boundaries of a mining claim, required to establish a valid claim.