Bad News For Prospectors

[Clay Diggins]

I am going to give a little background and history before I get to the bad news for prospectors part so if you don't like reading or don't care why things happen skip on down to the bottom for the bad news. I think perspective is important but if you don't that's fine with me - I'm just trying to get the message out.

I've been tracking, mapping and researching mining claims for 50 years. First as a small prospector/miner and later as a profession. Things have changed a lot in that time, I no longer have to spend long hours in County Recorder archives peering at dark microfiche machines thanks to the internet and the BLM has gotten involved in mining claims in that same time.

When the BLM annual notice became a requirement for mining claims in 1980 miners grumbled - a lot. But eventually it just became another mining chore to drop off your annual notice of intent to keep your claims at the BLM state office. Then in 1993 Congress decided to stop the BLM from processing miners patent applications and start charging an annual fee for the privilege of sending them a notice that you have a mining claim once a year. We all know where that ended up but that's not the point of this post. Miners grumbled again - the fees went up again and again and eventually the BLM provided some value for miners fees.

In late 2008 the BLM added mining claims to their new Communicator program. The BLM Communicator was an online map program with all the BLM cases, mining claims, land ownership, land status etc. etc. Essentially it was a more advanced version of the current MLRS mapping. It was limited to a map no bigger than a postcard but you could do all the mapping things you can do today as well as directly downloading all the maps, documents and data. You could stream Geocommunicator map layers to your own application and there were a bunch of features still not available today like being able to book mark multiple maps/views, get elevation with a click etc. The Geocommunicator wasn't perfect but it a good reliable useful federal land status research tool. Oh yeah - it was all free to the public without sign in, membership or restrictions on what maps, documents or data you could download.

I created several online mapping applications using the Geocommunicator streaming services to supply the claims layer. Some of you might remember the Gold Atlas? It was a free Google Earth file I created that displayed the PLSS, mining claims and a bunch of other useful map layers in Google Earth. The mining claims layer came from the Geocommunicator. It was pretty simple to create, gave miners some useful tools they were missing and it didn't cost anybody anything. Other people were creating mapping applications with the Geocommunicator, I wasn't the only one. Much like today Corporations and individuals began using the Geocommunicator functions in their own mapping systems.  The BLM had come through for all public land users. Things were looking up.

Then a little less than a year and a half later the Geocoimmunicator disappeared. The map was still there but it was just a map of the United States with nothing else. The streaming service was still available for a while but the files were never updated and later that year it all went away. There was never an explanation for the Geocommunicator being closed. Many asked. but the closest we got to a reply was a cryptic message a few weeks before the webpage disappeared saying:

"As approved datasets become available they will be republished on GeoCommunicator."

Since that time I have watched four major government initiatives to bring free government mapping to the public. It seems every time they get it just about right and things are working smoothly the service gets cancelled and a grand new program is promised. I chased these "free" government map layers for a couple of years after the Geocommunicatior disappeared but eventually figured out that I needed to maintain my own copies of the current government databases to be able to rely on the information. Since 2013 I've maintained a current up to date copy of the BLM's databases. That's what I rely on for information.

The last year or two several new mapping applications using the new MLRS services have been made available for free and for fee. A few creative members on this forum are a good example of the creative use of the MLRS mapping to provide useful interactive tools for prospectors. It's like another golden age happening. I love to see innovation like this.

For myself I've seriously considered switching mining claims mapping to the MLRS provided mining claims maps. Why spend 30 hours a month keeping my system updated if the BLM will provide a free mining claims map? Then again I can't quite get it out of the back corner of my brain that this has all happened before with bad consequences. So I start sniffing around the MLRS provided mining claims map service. What I found is disturbing.

___________________________________________________________________________

The BLM provided claims map used in these online claims map applications hasn't been updated since mid May of this year.

There have been 780 claims closed and 17,330 new claims located since mid May.

That's a problem. If you are relying on this mapping before you prospect you probably have a problem. Certainly the talented people that have been bringing you these applications have a problem.

Of course this news was disturbing and pretty much shot down any plans I had to use the MLRS claims mapping. But it got me thinking, I know my maps are current to a specific date but is the BLM MLRS online member map up to date? It took a while to track it down but I can reliably say that as of yeasterday the BLM's own claim maps were last brought up to date sometime before July 15th!

I actually thought that the BLM MLRS mining claims map was the most current up to date claims map available anywhere - but it's not being updated. Others seemed to think they would be receiving real time or daily updates. But they are not.

So where we stand:

Claims Map web service used in individual free and paid online claims maps - last updated May 2025 (5 months)

BLM hosted MLRS claims research maps (found HERE) - last updated sometime before July 15, 2025 (3 months)

Land Matters free mining claim maps - last updated September 21, 2025 (this week)

Land Matters has the most up to date mining claim information available anywhere. Twice a month right from the source. Handmade in Arizona USA.

I've been contacting my clients and most of the public free and paid mining claims map providers with this information. The miners are all scrambling to review their claims status etc. As a group they are very unhappy. With the map makers some didn't seem to care but others felt they were fooled by the BLM. I have offered to help all of them.

___________________________________________________________________________

Please share your thoughts on this. Please don't share your politics, hatred of government agencies or random thoughts about a claim you had once had. I am genuinely interested in small miners and prospectors points of view on this.

Barry

 

 

[Knomad]

All good info, thanks for posting.

[Shojo510]

Clay Thank you for all you do, Land Matters is a great resource that I am still trying to utilize to supplement and use with other mapping resources.   As for the lack of updating claim information I wonder is this fall out from the thinning of goverment positions and restructuring or just an overall flood of new claims that have things bogged down?

Its already difficult as a new guy to claim research of perspective areas this does not make me feel warm and fuzzy about the info I am utilizing to get out there...I already feel I have a problem with being frozen and not sure where to get the boots moving and the coil searching. So frustrating

[Broken_Pick]

Barry,

 

Thanks for keeping Land Matters running over the years it's been a awesome research tool! As a claims advantage member I've been able to get into some good spots.

 

[mn90403]

Where's the bad news?

As long as you are still 'open' that is really good news to me!

[Clay Diggins]

20 minutes ago, Shojo510 said:

Clay Thank you for all you do, Land Matters is a great resource that I am still trying to utilize to supplement and use with other mapping resources.   As for the lack of updating claim information I wonder is this fall out from the thinning of goverment positions and restructuring or just an overall flood of new claims that have things bogged down?

You are welcome Shojo510. It wouldn't be possible without the many contributors that have kept things going these last 11 years. I'm just one volunteer. It is nice to be appreciated Thank you.

I'm not sure why the BLM's contractors fail to fulfill the map data contract or why the BLM doesn't pursue a better outcome. I'd just be speculating if I were to try to answer that question.

I don't think this could have anything to do with thinning BLM positions because the DOI won't start the ~800 layoffs RIF until next week. We still don't know if any of those layoffs will be in the BLM state offices where the claims are processed. The BLM has been working at very near their historical full force so far this year. The BLM currently (this week) has about 11,000 employees - just a few hundred  less than in 2022 so there hasn't been any recent reduction in force.

Another consideration - there was at least one lapse in their mapping system last year. This appears to be pattern that was established before even any talk of layoffs.

Theoretically the way the MLRS is designed once the agent inputs the claim legal land description into the database the claim will be mapped automatically. I haven't seen that happen yet but that only applies to new claims. There are hundreds of closed claims that should be automatically removed from the map when they are marked closed, that isn't happening either. It should be a self updating map system.  I don't know if it's due to a system failure or if it's internal policy but there are no automatic or current map updates.

20 minutes ago, Shojo510 said:

Its already difficult as a new guy to claim research of perspective areas this does not make me feel warm and fuzzy about the info I am utilizing to get out there...I already feel I have a problem with being frozen and not sure where to get the boots moving and the coil searching. So frustrating

Believe me I understand as do most prospectors I suspect. Claim information has always been a sketchy process. Most countries have very clear mining claim systems that allow everybody to know what is taken and whats available. Here it's all based on miners working mineral ownership things out and making a public record of it all when they do. Which leads to claim maps like this one from Tombstone Arizona:

Not something any prospector is going to feel confident interpreting. With the laws, timing and systems in place for mining claims in the US it's virtually impossible to know the exact state of mineral ownership on public land in real time.

Lucky for prospectors the legal standard to avoid mineral trespass is "due diligence" meaning you did the best a reasonable person could do to determine the mineral status before you prospected. You don't have to be absolutely sure but you do have to have a reasonable verifiable research result to back you up if proof should be needed.

As far as feeling frozen imagine this scenario - which I have already faced twice this year. Huge mining company wants to start a multi billion dollar project but wants assurance that the minerals can be legally mined, the mineral owners are fully identified and the mineral rights are secure.

Just to add a little to the frozen aspect realize that each of these mining companies is acutely aware that they lose millions of dollars each year on mining claims that have been located on lands not open to entry. It's the second leading cause of mining claim closures just behind claim closures for non payment/abandonment.

After I unpucker I deal with that situation by first educating the client as to the data quality assurances I have from my sources. A brief version: For the Private mineral ownership, including mining claims, I can provide certified title copies that will hold up in any court of law. On the other hand my government sources for public land status will only assure me in bold clear type and the finest government double speak on every "document" that I can not rely on their information.
"NO WARRANTY IS MADE BY BLM FOR USE OF THE DATA FOR PURPOSES NOT INTENDED BY BLM"

And that's where we are all working from with the BLM. It's a real show stopper for a reasonable man. So if you really have to  know the status before you move from your frozen position you are going to have to learn to move your research to the next level - public records - the County Recorder and the General Land Office.

In the public records you will find all mining claim original location notices (County Recorder) and they will have the original locator map and location description as well. For public land status always check the patents (General Land Office) and warranty deeds (County Recorder) for the location because the government may own the surface but not the minerals or vice versa. You may also find the federal land was purchased by the government - in which case it can't be claimed. There are many things that affect mineral ownership other than active mining claims. Land mineral status research is very similar to genealogy but you aren't tracking humans through history you are tracking mineral ownership. Much like genealogy you have to understand the past to understand the present.

All that sounds very complex and some of it is but there are some big hints in all those words. All the best spots aren't necessarily open to mining claims but may be available for prospecting. Places off limits to mining claims like Wilderness areas are open to detecting and other forms of non mechanized prospecting. Learn what TGA split estate minerals are and discover interesting prospecting possibilities that everyone else drives by. Look into areas like the Greaterville 50/50 lands where some of the largest nuggets in Arizona history have been found and are still being found - but no mining claims allowed There is probably almost as much land closed to mining claims but legally prospectable as there is claimable public land. If you would be happy with a nice patch or three to visit and are not interested in opening a mine that might be the best way to get started without freezing over whether some cranky miner already has a claim where you were going to detect.

 

[Knomad]

5 hours ago, Clay Diggins said:

Land Matters free mining claim maps - last updated September 21, 2025 (this week)

Land Matters has the most up to date mining claim information available anywhere. Twice a month right from the source. Handmade in Arizona US

Please take this constructive criticism as it is intended, I do appreciate the work put into the site, BUT --

I had not visited the site for a long time and just did, and remembered WHY I rarely visit the site -- The interface is so dated and awkward to use it makes for a slow and frustrating experience.!    

BADLY NEEDED CHANGES,  Having to click on every function back and forth is frustrating.--

1.  All modern sites utilize functions on a mouse or track ball -- Such as zooming in and out, and panning by just rotating a wheel to zoom into wherever the curser is and holding a button and moving to pan.

2.  When you pan or move the view the screen should keep the existing view so you can follow along as you go, as is the view blanks out and a whole new view appears, making it hard to follow from one view to another even if moving just slightly out of the existing view. As you are panning there needs to be continuity of view as you move, a slight computer delay is no big problem, but starting from scratch and losing the last view with every move of the map is not only slow it's frustrating.

3.  Often with every map system including this one a particular Topo or other mad does not show things one may be looking for, or is not clear, so the best map and GPS systems offer multiple maps of the same type, so you can pick multiple Topo's or Street Maps for instance until you find one that more clearly shows roads or a trail system Etc.  Clarity in what you seek is the goal.

I Guarantee if these changes are made so people can more easily use the website, then the time constantly updating the mine data will not be wasted.!

THANKS AGAIN, and please pass this on to anyone and everyone involved with the otherwise nice useful website. 

 

[Clay Diggins]

19 hours ago, Knomad said:

1.  All modern sites utilize functions on a mouse or track ball -- Such as zooming in and out, and panning by just rotating a wheel to zoom into wherever the curser is and holding a button and moving to pan.

Thanks for the feedback Knomad it really is appreciated. User feedback is priceless.

Land Matters maps zoom in with either a zoom box (fastest), your mouse scroll wheel, or double clicking you can also use the + sign in the toolbar if you want. 4 different ways to zoom. Zooming out works with your mouse scroll wheel etc. as well.

Land Matters maps will pan by right clicking your mouse and moving the cursor as well as selecting the pan tool. If you just want to recenter the map you are working on you can just right click on the map area you would like to be the new center of the map and the map will recenter automatically..

All these methods but the zoombox work without selecting a tool on the right. They are native functions built into every map. The maps have always worked this way.

 

19 hours ago, Knomad said:

2.  When you pan or move the view the screen should keep the existing view so you can follow along as you go, as is the view blanks out and a whole new view appears, making it hard to follow from one view to another even if moving just slightly out of the existing view. As you are panning there needs to be continuity of view as you move, a slight computer delay is no big problem, but starting from scratch and losing the last view with every move of the map is not only slow it's frustrating.

Land Matters maps will never refresh as you pan because each map view is created from scratch on our server as opposed to being stored tiled images assembled in your browser. With Land Matters you click some boxes or move the map and it results in an order being placed with our server on what the map you want has on it, our mapping engine on our server is built especially for the purpose of making you the map you want very quickly and sending the finished map back to your browser with no effort on your end.  With google type maps you are handed the parts of the map you want with instructions for your web browser to assemble the parts into a map. Two very different mapping methods.

We initially tried the google type tiled images method but it severely limited our ability to display complex maps with many layers. Instead we created our own map engine that is faster and much more capable of responding to user changes on the fly when adding many layers and user styles. It's a trade off and can seem awkward if you are expecting the standard google map experience but the mapping engine method really opens the possibilities for complex mapping and styling.

Other than your perceptive comments on map refresh on panning the Land Matters maps already have all the zoom/pan functions you expected in a modern map. When I designed the control interface I tried to allow for at least two and preferably three methods of doing any map action. What that means is there are a lot more map functions than are at first apparent and you have several options to fit the way you prefer to work. If you read the HELP page linked on each map with a button you will find pages of descriptions of the map functions complete with graphics.

 

19 hours ago, Knomad said:

3.  Often with every map system including this one a particular Topo or other mad does not show things one may be looking for, or is not clear, so the best map and GPS systems offer multiple maps of the same type, so you can pick multiple Topo's or Street Maps for instance until you find one that more clearly shows roads or a trail system Etc.  Clarity in what you seek is the goal.

I agree absolutely. In my business I use probably 12 different topo sets for just the reason you state. I miss that ability when I use the Land Matters maps.

There is a problem inherent in using multiple streaming map services for presenting online mapping. As pointed out in my original post these government supplied map layers are prone to disappear, slow down at random times or partially fail and hang the map. That's not such a big deal when you are mapping on your own system but when 30 or 40 people are using the same streaming map layer at the same time and it fails it puts extreme loads on our servers. The user naturally gets frustrated and clicks the map a few more times (times 30 or 40 frustrated users) hoping to get the missing layer and suddenly my servers are being asked by 300 user requests to load a map that's somewhere in LaLa land while another 200 users are calling for entirely different maps that may be partially failing too if it's a busy day. The more of these maps we add the more likely the selection will fail and frustrate the user and bog down the server. It's a vicious cycle. The real internet isn't magic it requires constant maintenance. The set of base maps we have right now are relatively stable but that will change eventually and I will once again spend 4 hours stress testing several replacement maps to see if they will work. Most won't.

That might all be OK if Land Matters had the resources to monitor these maps and swap them out for a different map when they begin failing or disappear. Being limited on resources we are often restricted to updating, monitoring and maintaining our existing maps or working on new user requested maps. It's just a matter of resource allocation.

There are more reliable or better quality commercial versions of some of these map layers Land Matters could add. The problem with moving to a paid map subscription is that Land Matters has become very popular. Land Matters serves as many as 180,000 maps a day every day. millions every month. Commercial map services charge by use. This stuff gets expensive real fast.

Land Matters is an all volunteer charity that just about pays the server, data, bandwidth and email bill most months. Land Matters concentrates on providing quality accurate up to date land information rather than fundraising. Several have said that is a strategic mistake and a business blunder. Maybe they are right? I'm no expert. Land Matters is still going after 11 years serving up the most current land status mapping available for free. That was the goal. Something the BLM has failed to accomplish after billions of dollars and several modern upgrades through the years. Have you tried using the BLM MLRS map interface for research?

Please use what ever map you prefer and always feel free to suggest changes and improvements for Land Matters maps. We can't make it better if we don't know what users want. It seems we already have most of the features you requested but obviously we need to do a better job of making sure users know their options. Thanks for the input.

For right now we are all going to have to use Land Matters mining claim maps if we want the most current claims information. That's just one map layer and just one map interface. You might find some of these new maps better for your method of working. I think it's really cool some of the features they have especially the file and drawing interaction.

 

[Joe D.]

Clay,

   I have basically zero knowledge of the process you all have to go through, just to pursue the hobby! And what little i have, comes from this forum; thanks DP prospecting community!👍 That whole process seems quite daunting to this "beach" hunter, and I just wanted to say thanks for helping keep your end of the hobby alive! Never know when i might get a chance to try it out!🙏🍀👍👍