June 2016 marks a continued slowing in the mining claim activity on public land. Last month experienced a greater number of closed claims (516) compared to activated claims (298), a reverse of the trend in June of 2015 when 754 claims were opened and 168 claims were closed. Unlike most of the major mining states, Arizona experienced an uptick in total active claims compared with the year before (35). Whereas, Nevada may have an annual decrease in active claims but the month of June experienced a singular uptick compared with June 2015 (95).
Nationwide Trends
In June 2016, 298 claims were staked on public land overseen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for mining purposes. This is compared to 754 staked in June 2015—a month-over-month decrease of 456 claims. June’s trends contribute to an annual net decrease of 19,220 active claims between 2016 (358,855 active claims) and 2015 (378,075 active claims). 6,335 acres were acquired with these 298 staked claims. That is a decrease of 10,866.06 acres in contrast to the 17,201 acres claimed in June 2015.
While 298 mining claims were staked through the BLM in June, 516 claims were abandoned over the same month. This is a increase of 348 claims as opposed to June 2015 when there were 168 abandoned claims. 10,901 acres were released with these 516 closed claims. This is 5,911.51 more acres released in June compared to the 4,989 released in the same month in 2015.
June 2016 | June 2015 | Net | Change | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Active Claims | 358,855 | 378,075 | 19,220 | 5.08% |
Staked Claims | 298 | 754 | 456 | 60.48% |
Staked Acres | 6,335 | 17,201 | 10,866.06 | 63.17% |
Abandoned Claims | 516 | 168 | 348 | 207.14% |
Abandoned Acres | 10,901 | 4,989 | 5,911.51 | 118.47% |
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 177,312 active claims, accounting for 49.41% of the overall mining claims in the United States. This is 134,320 more claims than Arizona, the second most active state, which hosts 42,992 mining claims and accounts for 11.98% of the overall mining claims in the United States. Wyoming has 6,333 fewer claim than Arizona, making it the third most active state, with 36,659 mining claims—11.98% of the active mining claims overseen by the BLM.
State | June 2016 (Active Claims) |
June 2015 (Active Claims) |
Net | Change |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nevada | 177,312 | 185,124 | 7,812 | 4.22% |
Arizona | 42,992 | 42,957 | 35 | 0.08% |
Wyoming | 36,659 | 38,781 | 2,122 | 5.47% |
California | 22,141 | 23,216 | 1,075 | 4.63% |
Utah | 18,679 | 20,235 | 1,556 | 7.69% |
Staked Claims In June
Nevada, Utah, and Arizona gained the greatest number of mining claims staked on public land over June 2016. Nevada experienced the most significant growth, with 144 claims staked—an increase of 95 compared to June 2015. This is 71 more claims than Utah, which gained 73 mining claims in June—38 less than June last year. Arizona has 54 fewer staked claims than Utah, with a total of 19 staked claims—compared to 184 in June 2016.
State | June 2016 (Staked Claims) |
June 2015 (Staked Claims) |
Net | Change |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nevada | 144 | 49 | 95 | 193.88% |
Utah | 73 | 111 | 38 | 34.23% |
Arizona | 19 | 184 | 165 | 89.67% |
Colorado | 16 | 57 | 41 | 71.93% |
California | 12 | 109 | 97 | 88.99% |
Abandoned Claims In June
Nevada, Montana, and Washington had the most abandoned BLM mining claims over the course of June 2016. Nevada is distinguished by its 475 abandoned claims, the most closed that month and 471 more than June 2016. This is 461 more claims than Montana, which lost 14 mining claims—an increase of 13 claims from last June. Washington jettisoned 8 fewer claims than Montana. The 6 mining claims abandoned in Washington are 5 greater than June last year.
State | June 2016 (Abandoned Claims) |
June 2015 (Abandoned Claims) |
Net | Change |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nevada | 475 | 4 | 471 | 11,775% |
Montana | 14 | 1 | 13 | 1,300% |
Washington | 6 | 1 | 5 | 500% |
Arizona | 6 | 77 | 71 | 92.21% |
California | 5 | 8 | 3 | 37.5% |
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 28,785 active claims. The county accounts for 8.02% of the overall mining claims in the United States. This is 6,513 more claims than Eureka County, Nevada which hosts 22,272 mining claims and accounts for 6.21% of the overall mining claims in the United States. Lander County, Nevada has 1,559 fewer claims than Eureka, with 20,713 mining claims—6.21% of the active mining claims overseen by the BLM.
County | June 2016 (Active Claims) |
June 2015 (Active Claims) |
Net | Change |
---|---|---|---|---|
Elko, Nevada | 28,785 | 30,919 | 2,134 | 6.9% |
Eureka, Nevada | 22,272 | 26,582 | 4,310 | 16.21% |
Lander, Nevada | 20,713 | 21,990 | 1,277 | 5.81% |
Humboldt, Nevada | 19,888 | 20,804 | 916 | 4.4% |
Nye, Nevada | 18,886 | 17,693 | 1,193 | 6.74% |
Staked Claims In June
Nye, Grand, and Beaverhead counties gained the greatest number of mining claims staked on public land over June 2016. Nye County, Nevada experienced the most significant growth, with 139 claims staked—a 133 increase compared to June 2015. This is 67 more claims than Grand County, Utah which gained 72 mining claims in June—72 more than June last year. Beaverhead County, Montana has 63 fewer staked claims than Grand, with 9 staked claims—compared to 0 in June 2016.
County | June 2016 (Staked Claims) |
June 2015 (Staked Claims) |
Net | Change |
---|---|---|---|---|
Nye, Nevada | 139 | 6 | 133 | 2,216.67% |
Grand, Utah | 72 | 0 | 72 | |
Beaverhead, Montana | 9 | 0 | 9 | |
Idaho, Idaho | 7 | 9 | 2 | 22.22% |
Yavapai, Arizona | 6 | 15 | 9 | 60% |
Abandoned Claims In June
Elko, Esmeralda, and Mineral counties had the most abandoned BLM mining claims over the course of June 2016. Elko County, Nevada is distinguished by its 270 abandoned claims, the most closed that month and 270 more than June 2015. This is 146 more claims than Esmeralda County, Nevada, which lost 124 mining claims—an increase of 120 claims from last June. Mineral County, Nevada jettisoned 45 fewer claims than Esmeralda. The 79 mining claims abandoned in Mineral County are 79 more than June last year.
County | June 2016 (Abandoned Claims) |
June 2015 (Abandoned Claims) |
Net | Change |
---|---|---|---|---|
Elko, Nevada | 270 | 0 | 270 | |
Esmeralda, Nevada | 124 | 4 | 120 | 3,000% |
Mineral, Nevada | 79 | 0 | 79 | |
Lincoln, Montana | 12 | 0 | 12 | |
Yavapai, Arizona | 4 | 0 | 4 |
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™.
Get Report Alerts
Each month, we release a new report on mining claim trends. Get notified when the next report is published, updated data is released, or new features are available on The Diggings™ by joining our mailing list.
*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.