August 2016 was a notable month in a relatively slow year for mining claims staked on public land. While the total number of active claims in August 2016 is down by 3.72% compared to August of 2015, the number of claims staked in the month of August is up by 88% compared to last year. To compound this gain, only 671 claims were abandoned over August, compared to 1,034 abandoned last year. This still leaves the net change in mining claims for the month in the negative, but significantly less so, compared to last year. Lemhi, Idaho experienced an uncharacteristic surge in claims staked: 58 compared to 4.
Nationwide Trends
In August 2016, 408 mines were staked on public land overseen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for mining purposes. This is compared to 217 staked in August 2015—a month-over-month decrease of 191 mines. August’s trends contribute to an annual net decrease of 14,044 active mines between 2016 (363,240 active mines) and 2015 (377,284 active mines). 8,291 acres were acquired with these 408 staked mines. That is a increase of 3,167.53 acres in contrast to the 5,123 acres claimed in August 2015.
While 408 mining claims were staked through the BLM in August, 671 mines were abandoned over the same month. This is a decrease of 363 mines as opposed to August 2015 when there were 1,034 abandoned mines. 14,054 acres were released with these 671 closed mines. This is 8,261.91 fewer acres released in August compared to the 22,316 released in the same month in 2015.
| August 2016 | August 2015 | Net | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Claims | 363,240 | 377,284 | 14,044 | 3.72% |
| Staked Claims | 408 | 217 | 191 | 88.02% |
| Staked Acres | 8,291 | 5,123 | 3,167.53 | 61.82% |
| Abandoned Claims | 671 | 1,034 | 363 | 35.11% |
| Abandoned Acres | 14,054 | 22,316 | 8,261.91 | 37.02% |
Chart 1: Active Mines 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 mines on public land overseen by the BLM. Nevada is the most active state with 181,189 active mines, accounting for 49.88% of the overall mining mines in the United States. This is 137,744 more mines than Arizona, the second most active state, which hosts 43,445 mining mines and accounts for 11.96% of the overall mining mines in the United States. Wyoming has 7,329 fewer mine than Arizona, making it the third most active state, with 36,116 mining mines—11.96% of the active mining mines overseen by the BLM.
| State | August 2016 (Active Mines) |
August 2015 (Active Mines) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 181,189 | 185,172 | 3,983 | 2.15% |
| Arizona | 43,445 | 42,839 | 606 | 1.41% |
| Wyoming | 36,116 | 38,052 | 1,936 | 5.09% |
| California | 22,106 | 23,225 | 1,119 | 4.82% |
| Utah | 19,006 | 20,165 | 1,159 | 5.75% |
Chart 2: States By Active Mine
in the United States Of America
Staked Mines In August
Nevada, Idaho, and Utah gained the greatest number of mining mines staked on public land over August 2016. Nevada experienced the most significant growth, with 267 mines staked—an increase of 230 compared to August 2015. This is 205 more mines than Idaho, which gained 62 mining mines in August—29 more than August last year. Utah has 29 fewer staked mines than Idaho, with a total of 33 staked mines—compared to 10 in August 2016.
| State | August 2016 (Staked Mines) |
August 2015 (Staked Mines) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 267 | 37 | 230 | 621.62% |
| Idaho | 62 | 33 | 29 | 87.88% |
| Utah | 33 | 10 | 23 | 230% |
| California | 28 | 69 | 41 | 59.42% |
| Colorado | 13 | 16 | 3 | 18.75% |
Abandoned Mines In August
Wyoming, Idaho, and Nevada had the most abandoned BLM mining claims over the course of August 2016. Wyoming is distinguished by its 564 abandoned mines, the most closed that month and 188 less than August 2016. This is 527 more mines than Idaho, which lost 37 mining claims—an increase of 8 mines from last August. Nevada jettisoned 9 fewer mines than Idaho. The 28 mining mines abandoned in Nevada are 34 fewer than August last year.
| State | August 2016 (Abandoned Mines) |
August 2015 (Abandoned Mines) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wyoming | 564 | 752 | 188 | 25% |
| Idaho | 37 | 29 | 8 | 27.59% |
| Nevada | 28 | 62 | 34 | 54.84% |
| Arizona | 24 | 58 | 34 | 58.62% |
| California | 9 | 30 | 21 | 70% |
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 28,758 active mines. The county accounts for 7.92% of the overall mining mines in the United States. This is 6,343 more mines than Eureka County, Nevada which hosts 22,415 mining mines and accounts for 6.17% of the overall mining mines in the United States. Lander County, Nevada has 1,135 fewer mines than Eureka, with 21,280 mining mines—6.17% of the active mining mines overseen by the BLM.
| County | August 2016 (Active Mines) |
August 2015 (Active Mines) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elko, Nevada | 28,758 | 30,912 | 2,154 | 6.97% |
| Eureka, Nevada | 22,415 | 26,578 | 4,163 | 15.66% |
| Lander, Nevada | 21,280 | 21,898 | 618 | 2.82% |
| Humboldt, Nevada | 19,909 | 20,819 | 910 | 4.37% |
| Nye, Nevada | 19,377 | 17,776 | 1,601 | 9.01% |
Staked Mines In August
Lander, Lemhi, and Washington counties gained the greatest number of mining mines staked on public land over August 2016. Lander County, Nevada experienced the most significant growth, with 237 mines staked—a 237 increase compared to August 2015. This is 179 more mines than Lemhi County, Idaho which gained 58 mining mines in August—54 more than August last year. Washington County, Utah has 26 fewer staked mines than Lemhi, with 32 staked mines—compared to 0 in August 2016.
Lemhi, Idaho is a remarkable stand out given the 58 staked claims last month compared to 4 last year. This appears to be attributed to a massive number of claims staked by Arizona Lithium Company LTD and Carlin Trend Mining Services.
| County | August 2016 (Staked Mines) |
August 2015 (Staked Mines) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lander, Nevada | 237 | 0 | 237 | |
| Lemhi, Idaho | 58 | 4 | 54 | 1,350% |
| Washington, Utah | 32 | 0 | 32 | |
| Esmeralda, Nevada | 19 | 4 | 15 | 375% |
| Eureka, Nevada | 11 | 0 | 11 |
Abandoned Mines In August
Albany, Carbon, and Cassia counties had the most abandoned BLM mining claims over the course of August 2016. Albany County, Wyoming is distinguished by its 309 abandoned mines, the most closed that month and 309 more than August 2015. This is 54 more mines than Carbon County, Wyoming, which lost 255 mining claims—an increase of 251 mines from last August. Cassia County, Idaho jettisoned 235 fewer mines than Carbon. The 20 mining mines abandoned in Cassia County are 20 more than August last year.
| County | August 2016 (Abandoned Mines) |
August 2015 (Abandoned Mines) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Albany, Wyoming | 309 | 0 | 309 | |
| Carbon, Wyoming | 255 | 4 | 251 | 6,275% |
| Cassia, Idaho | 20 | 0 | 20 | |
| Lincoln, Nevada | 18 | 2 | 16 | 800% |
| Gila, Arizona | 15 | 0 | 15 |
View Individual State Trends Reports
While this report focuses on those states and counties with the greatest amount of active mines 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.