April continues a monthly trend of decreased activity in 2016 as compared to 2015. There were over 2,000 fewer mining claims authorized last month compared to April 2015. Nevada continues to experience the greatest amount of activity across the states, with 61 staked and 33 abandoned claims over the month of April. Esmeralda, Nevada accounts for 51 of the 61 staked claims. While, Elko, Nevada accounts for 21 of the 33 abandoned claims in Nevada.
Nationwide Trends
In April 2016, 166 claims were staked on public land overseen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for mining purposes. This is compared to 2,518 staked in April 2015—a month-over-month decrease of 2,352 claims. April’s trends contribute to an annual net decrease of 17,903 active claims between 2016 (358,813 active claims) and 2015 (376,716 active claims). 3,892 acres were acquired with these 166 staked claims. That is a decrease of 46,467.70 acres in contrast to the 50,360 acres claimed in April 2015.
While 166 mining claims were staked through the BLM in April, 65 claims were abandoned over the same month. This is a decrease of 39 claims as opposed to April 2015 when there were 104 abandoned claims. 1,231 acres were released with these 65 closed claims. This is 2,246.03 fewer acres released in April compared to the 3,477 released in the same month in 2015.
| April 2016 | April 2015 | Net | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Claims | 358,813 | 376,716 | 17,903 | 4.75% |
| Staked Claims | 166 | 2,518 | 2,352 | 93.41% |
| Staked Acres | 3,892 | 50,360 | 46,467.70 | 92.27% |
| Abandoned Claims | 65 | 104 | 39 | 37.5% |
| Abandoned Acres | 1,231 | 3,477 | 2,246.03 | 64.58% |
Chart 1: Active Claims By Year
in the United States Of America
State Trends
Nevada, Arizona, and Wyoming are the three most active states when ranked by total active mining claims on public land overseen by the BLM. Nevada is the most active state with 173,864 active claims, accounting for 48.46% of the overall mining claims in the United States. This is 131,198 more claims than Arizona, the second most active state, which hosts 42,666 mining claims and accounts for 11.89% of the overall mining claims in the United States. Wyoming has 4,150 fewer claims than Arizona, making it the third most active state, with 38,516 mining claims—11.89% of the active mining claims overseen by the BLM.
| State | April 2016 (Active Claims) |
April 2015 (Active Claims) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 173,864 | 184,841 | 10,977 | 5.94% |
| Arizona | 42,666 | 42,610 | 56 | 0.13% |
| Wyoming | 38,516 | 38,755 | 239 | 0.62% |
| California | 22,677 | 23,171 | 494 | 2.13% |
| Utah | 18,744 | 20,102 | 1,358 | 6.76% |
Chart 2: States By Active Claim
in the United States Of America
Staked Claims In April
Nevada, Arizona, and Colorado gained the greatest number of mining claims staked on public land over April 2016. Nevada experienced the most significant growth, with 61 claims staked—a decrease of 272 compared to April 2015. This is 36 more claims than Arizona, which gained 25 mining claims in April—1,333 less than April last year. Colorado has 5 fewer staked claims than Arizona, with a total of 20 staked claims—compared to 32 in April 2016.
| State | April 2016 (Staked Claims) |
April 2015 (Staked Claims) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 61 | 333 | 272 | 81.68% |
| Arizona | 25 | 1,358 | 1,333 | 98.16% |
| Colorado | 20 | 32 | 12 | 37.5% |
| Idaho | 15 | 29 | 14 | 48.28% |
| California | 12 | 103 | 91 | 88.35% |
Abandoned Claims In April
Nevada, Montana, and Arizona had the most abandoned BLM mining claims over the course of April 2016. Nevada is distinguished by its 33 abandoned claims, the most closed that month and 36 less than April 2016. This is 15 more claims than Montana, which lost 18 mining claims—an increase of 18 claims from last April. Arizona jettisoned 9 fewer claims than Montana. The 9 mining claims abandoned in Arizona are 6 fewer than April last year.
| State | April 2016 (Abandoned Claims) |
April 2015 (Abandoned Claims) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 33 | 69 | 36 | 52.17% |
| Montana | 18 | 0 | 18 | |
| Arizona | 9 | 15 | 6 | 40% |
| Colorado | 3 | 8 | 5 | 62.5% |
| Idaho | 1 | 2 | 1 | 50% |
County Trends
Elko, Eureka, and Lander counties are the three most active mining counties on public land overseen by the BLM. Elko County, Nevada is the most active with 28,997 active claims. The county accounts for 8.08% of the overall mining claims in the United States. This is 6,929 more claims than Eureka County, Nevada which hosts 22,068 mining claims and accounts for 6.15% of the overall mining claims in the United States. Lander County, Nevada has 1,680 fewer claims than Eureka, with 20,388 mining claims—6.15% of the active mining claims overseen by the BLM.
| County | April 2016 (Active Claims) |
April 2015 (Active Claims) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elko, Nevada | 28,997 | 30,904 | 1,907 | 6.17% |
| Eureka, Nevada | 22,068 | 26,582 | 4,514 | 16.98% |
| Lander, Nevada | 20,388 | 21,985 | 1,597 | 7.26% |
| Humboldt, Nevada | 19,677 | 20,798 | 1,121 | 5.39% |
| Nye, Nevada | 17,846 | 17,661 | 185 | 1.05% |
Staked Claims In April
Esmeralda, Boise, and Yavapai counties gained the greatest number of mining claims staked on public land over April 2016. Esmeralda County, Nevada experienced the most significant growth, with 51 claims staked—a 21 increase compared to April 2015. This is 40 more claims than Boise County, Idaho which gained 11 mining claims in April—1 less than April last year. Tied with Boise, Yavapai County, Arizona has 11 staked claims—compared to 24 in April 2016.
| County | April 2016 (Staked Claims) |
April 2015 (Staked Claims) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Esmeralda, Nevada | 51 | 30 | 21 | 70% |
| Boise, Idaho | 11 | 12 | 1 | 8.33% |
| Yavapai, Arizona | 11 | 24 | 13 | 54.17% |
| Grand, Colorado | 10 | 0 | 10 | |
| Park, Colorado | 9 | 4 | 5 | 125% |
Abandoned Claims In April
Elko, Jefferson, and La Paz counties had the most abandoned BLM mining claims over the course of April 2016. Elko County, Nevada is distinguished by its 21 abandoned claims, the most closed that month and 21 more than April 2015. This is 8 more claims than Jefferson County, Montana, which lost 13 mining claims. La Paz County, Arizona jettisoned 8 fewer claims than Jefferson for a total of 5 abandoned mining claims.
| County | April 2016 (Abandoned Claims) |
April 2015 (Abandoned Claims) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elko, Nevada | 21 | 0 | 21 | |
| Jefferson, Montana | 13 | 0 | 13 | |
| La Paz, Arizona | 5 | 0 | 5 | |
| Pershing, Nevada | 5 | 6 | 1 | 16.67% |
| Lander, Nevada | 4 | 2 | 2 | 100% |
View Individual State Trends Reports
While this report focuses on those states and counties with the greatest amount of active claims or significant change in activity on public land, this is hardly to neglect the extensive activity occurring elsewhere. For more locally focused reports, complete with graphs and time series tables, visit any of our listed states below or search for a particular county’s trend report on The Diggings™.
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*These reports are summarizing mining claims on public land overseen by the Bureau of Land Management and do not encompass sales or transfers occurring on private land.