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Thanks jasong, I'm sure you know how much work goes into this so your appreciation is particularly gratifying. :D

We are treating the LR2000 mining claims as individual state databases. Updates can be done on the same basis as they are included in the LR2000. The biggest obstacle is the limited cache on the BLM server but we may have that solved soon. We are hoping to run some php currency scripts that will sync our database with the BLM's. Even though the Denver BLM techies have their hands full maintaining their system they are pretty cooperative if we do the heavy lifting from our end.

We use postgis for virtually all of our mapping backend. This allows us to attach a three dimensional location to all the items in our library. The difference between maps and library items is negligible when viewed this way so we are able to search library items from a map or show the location of a library item on the map. You will be seeing a lot more of this implemented as we grow but it's already the basis of most of our maps now. Check out the Topo Search Map to see this working with  multiple sources between postgis geom, our Library, and sometimes the USGS, Forest Service and NOAA sites.

You can already query the map databases with either guided or boolean searches right from the map. This applies to most map layers, not just the claims database. Use the tool that looks like a pair of binoculars and configure your search terms from the interface or type boolean queries directly in the "Generated Query" box.

You can add searches together for more complex queries. Use the little magnifying glass next to each item in the search results window to highlight and zoom to that item on the map or click on the  yellow magnifying glass at the bottom of the results window to highlight and zoom to all  the returned features.

You can do some pretty interesting things with the advanced search functions. Try searching for all the claims with an assessment year of 2014 and you will get a list of all the claims that might still be closed in the future. You can of course search for claimant names and see all the claims someone has in a state or just search for a single claim by name or MC number and then zoom directly to the claim location.

We already provide a search map that provides direct downloads of all the Master Title Plats and Supplemental MTPs in the GLO database. You will find those as an individual layer on each state's Land Status Map. At present there are only 10 states in the GLO database but we are working on sourcing MTPs for all the states that have them.

We will be adding direct downloads of Historical Indexes, Survey Field Notes, Survey Plats, CDIs and several other features to those Land Status maps as we have the time.

Alaska is not in the GLO MTP database but the BLM provides a WMS display of all the MTPs. You can view those MTPs displayed right on the Alaska Claims Map.

I hope that answers your questions jasong? Feel free to ask more here or you can Contact Land Matters directly with your questions or suggestions. User feedback is really important to guide the development of Land Matters.

Barry

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  • 3 months later...

Land Matters has offered downloads of all the Historical and current Topographic maps for a while.

You can actually pick which year of topo you want for any area as well as the new style layered topos with aerial photo backgrounds. All of that with a few clicks on the Land Matters Topo Search Map.

With more than 280,000 topos available from that one interactive map some people have been a little confused on the process for getting any particular Topo map downloaded. We've put together a short video to show you just how easy that can be. :)



There are more informational videos on the Land Matters youtube channel and we have many more planned.

Barry
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  • 1 month later...

As they do twice each month Land Matters has updated the BLM LR2000 Mining Claims Maps.

This is the next to last update before the end of the Federal Mining Claims year. We are working on some graphs and charts to illustrate the number and type of claims made and lost through the year. There is a pattern that changes by state and season that a wise prospector can use to optimize their research efforts.

In the meantime enjoy the most up to date mining claims maps available at any price. smile.png

Barry

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  • 3 months later...

Land Matters Claims Advantage Members have been receiving their twice monthly Closed Claims Reports for about a month now. These reports can be very helpful for someone doing claims research and might be used for several things. Maybe even finding recently opened land for prospecting or mining claims? ;)

In addition to the twice monthly update reports Claims Advantage Members are emailed a series of Special Reports as they are created. There have been two Special Reports since the Land Matters Membership program was started last month. These reports are about 15 pages long and have State by State interactive tables to help claims researchers.

I can't share the reports themselves but with each report Land Matters includes heat maps to give a visual aid in identifying the most active areas. Special Report #1 presented Placer Mining Claims that were closed within the last three years AND were more than 30 years old when they were closed. This was an interesting report because claims that are more than 30 years old are usually considered valuable and worth keeping. Not your average exploratory claim that lasts for a year or two. Useful information for the clever prospector.

Here's the heat map from Special Report #1. The map shows the areas with the most closed Placer claims as a deep red and then fewer claims density are shaded down from lighter red to pale yellow. The smaller black lines are county borders to give you a little better idea where the activity is taking place.

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Although this map is nowhere near as detailed as the full report it does give a good view of where the claims changed and even potentially tracks areas of higher mineralization and claims interest. The report itself shows for each claim 14 data fields and a direct link to the BLM records for the claim.

The Special Report #2 is similar to the first but deals with 30 year lode claims. Neither of these Special Reports or the twice monthly Closed Claims Reports could be created from LR2000 information.

We are working on Special Report #3 now and I'm really excited about what that's going to reveal. The things Land Matters can do with our huge databases is truly amazing. I'll have more info on that report when we get closer to releasing it.

Barry

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There is something very interesting in the report above. OK there are several interesting things but this one really made the point about how sometimes things are right there in front of us but we need a little different point of view to notice them.

The oldest claim in the report above was located in 1893. I got curious about just what sort of claim folks would hold for 123 years?

That claim was located in a small valley well known for good placer gold.

It appears to be relatively unworked unlike it's neighboring claims.

It has good access with a road though the claim.

Running water through the center of the claim.

Sounds like a great claim right?

... It's still unclaimed since the original 1893 claim was closed!

Guess what the next Special Report is going to cover? Yep old closed claims still open to location. :D

We are still working out the details but we hope to be able to send this report out to Claims Advantage members by the end of the week.

In the meantime we will be working through the latest BLM database download tomorrow to send members the first of this months two Closed Claims Reports. These Closed Claims Reports are time based comparisons to past database downloads so you won't be able to get this updated information from the LR2000.

Barry

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Barry.

When folks are willing to spend $10k on a detector - they would have to be soft in the head not to pony up $100 a year for your service.

Folks like you who actually DO something are so important to what we used to call civilization. Now sadly, most are like me, just commenting.

Well done.

Edit note - For the record. I just signed up.

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Paul you and Steve have been big supporters of Land Matters from the beginning. Without support like yours I don't think Land Matters could have been more than a dream.

You picked a good time to join Paul. Our limited time special ends soon so you will be getting all the Closed Claims Reports back to September 1st as well as all the Special Reports. I suspect our upcoming Closed Claims open to location Special Report #3 will be more valuable the earlier you get it too.

By joining early in the month you also get a bonus because your membership runs through the month following your sign up, in effect giving you 13 months of reports during your year long membership.

Thank you Paul for your continued support. It looks like it was your membership that put us over the top so we can now double the memory on the Land Matters server. This was sorely needed because although use of Land Matters website is exploding we have been reaching the limits of our server for over a month now.

Barry

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