Nationwide Trends
In March 2016, 240 claims were staked on public land overseen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for mining purposes. This is compared to 1,991 staked in March 2015—a month-over-month decrease of 1,751 claims. March’s trends contribute to an annual net decrease of 17,013 active claims between 2016 (357,181 active claims) and 2015 (374,194 active claims). 4,916 acres were acquired with these 240 staked claims. That is a decrease of 36,289.32 acres in contrast to the 41,205 acres claimed in March 2015.
While 240 mining claims were staked through the BLM in March, 133 claims were abandoned over the same month. This is a increase of 53 claims as opposed to March 2015 when there were 80 abandoned claims. 12,613 acres were released with these 133 closed claims. This is 10,415.16 more acres released in March compared to the 2,198 released in the same month in 2015.
| March 2016 | March 2015 | Net | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Claims | 357,181 | 374,194 | 17,013 | 4.55% |
| Staked Claims | 240 | 1,991 | 1,751 | 87.95% |
| Staked Acres | 4,916 | 41,205 | 36,289.32 | 88.07% |
| Abandoned Claims | 133 | 80 | 53 | 66.25% |
| Abandoned Acres | 12,613 | 2,198 | 10,415.16 | 473.7% |
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 172,626 active claims, accounting for 48.33% of the overall mining claims in the United States. This is 130,523 more claims than Arizona, the second most active state, which hosts 42,103 mining claims and accounts for 11.79% of the overall mining claims in the United States. Wyoming has 3,610 fewer claim than Arizona, making it the third most active state, with 38,493 mining claims—11.79% of the active mining claims overseen by the BLM.
| State | March 2016 (Active Claims) |
March 2015 (Active Claims) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 172,626 | 184,577 | 11,951 | 6.47% |
| Arizona | 42,103 | 41,267 | 836 | 2.03% |
| Wyoming | 38,493 | 38,748 | 255 | 0.66% |
| California | 22,772 | 23,087 | 315 | 1.36% |
| Utah | 18,664 | 20,101 | 1,437 | 7.15% |
Chart 2: States By Active Claim
in the United States Of America
Staked Claims In March
Nevada, New Mexico, and Arizona gained the greatest number of mining claims staked on public land over March 2016. Nevada experienced the most significant growth, with 127 claims staked—a decrease of 219 compared to March 2015. This is 95 more claims than New Mexico, which gained 32 mining claims in March—61 less than March last year. Arizona ties New Mexico for staked claims, with a total of 32 staked claims—compared to 1,060 in March 2016.
| State | March 2016 (Staked Claims) |
March 2015 (Staked Claims) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 127 | 346 | 219 | 63.29% |
| New Mexico | 32 | 93 | 61 | 65.59% |
| Arizona | 32 | 1,060 | 1,028 | 96.98% |
| Colorado | 14 | 53 | 39 | 73.58% |
| California | 12 | 195 | 183 | 93.85% |
Abandoned Claims In March
California, Arizona, and Nevada had the most abandoned BLM mining claims over the course of March 2016. California is distinguished by its 88 abandoned claims, the most closed that month and 85 more than March 2016. This is 67 more claims than Arizona, which lost 21 mining claims—a decrease of 31 claims from last March. Nevada jettisoned 11 fewer claims than Arizona. The 10 mining claims abandoned in Nevada are 3 greater than March last year.
| State | March 2016 (Abandoned Claims) |
March 2015 (Abandoned Claims) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | 88 | 3 | 85 | 2,833.33% |
| Arizona | 21 | 52 | 31 | 59.62% |
| Nevada | 10 | 7 | 3 | 42.86% |
| Utah | 7 | 2 | 5 | 250% |
| Oregon | 3 | 7 | 4 | 57.14% |
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 29,018 active claims. The county accounts for 8.12% of the overall mining claims in the United States. This is 6,990 more claims than Eureka County, Nevada which hosts 22,028 mining claims and accounts for 6.17% of the overall mining claims in the United States. Lander County, Nevada has 2,059 fewer claims than Eureka, with 19,969 mining claims—6.17% of the active mining claims overseen by the BLM.
| County | March 2016 (Active Claims) |
March 2015 (Active Claims) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elko, Nevada | 29,018 | 30,882 | 1,864 | 6.04% |
| Eureka, Nevada | 22,028 | 26,582 | 4,554 | 17.13% |
| Lander, Nevada | 19,969 | 21,978 | 2,009 | 9.14% |
| Humboldt, Nevada | 19,677 | 20,798 | 1,121 | 5.39% |
| Nye, Nevada | 17,792 | 17,656 | 136 | 0.77% |
Staked Claims In March
Esmeralda, Hidalgo, and Yavapai counties gained the greatest number of mining claims staked on public land over March 2016. Esmeralda County, Nevada experienced the most significant growth, with 116 claims staked—a 107 increase compared to March 2015. This is 86 more claims than Hidalgo County, New Mexico which gained 30 mining claims in March—59 less than March last year. Yavapai County, Arizona has 12 fewer staked claims than Hidalgo, with 18 staked claims—compared to 40 in March 2016.
| County | March 2016 (Staked Claims) |
March 2015 (Staked Claims) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Esmeralda, Nevada | 116 | 9 | 107 | 1,188.89% |
| Hidalgo, New Mexico | 30 | 89 | 59 | 66.29% |
| Yavapai, Arizona | 18 | 40 | 22 | 55% |
| Maricopa, Arizona | 10 | 1 | 9 | 900% |
| Pershing, Nevada | 5 | 30 | 25 | 83.33% |
Abandoned Claims In March
San Bernardino, Mohave, and Kern counties had the most abandoned BLM mining claims over the course of March 2016. San Bernardino County, California is distinguished by its 67 abandoned claims, the most closed that month. It is all the more notable because no claims were closed in San Bernardino County in March 2015. This is 48 more claims than Mohave County, Arizona, which lost 19 mining claims—a decrease of 26 claims from last March. Kern County, California jettisoned 9 fewer claims than Mohave. The 10 mining claims abandoned in Kern County are 10 more than March last year.
| County | March 2016 (Abandoned Claims) |
March 2015 (Abandoned Claims) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| San Bernardino, California | 67 | 0 | 67 | |
| Mohave, Arizona | 19 | 45 | 26 | 57.78% |
| Kern, California | 10 | 0 | 10 | |
| Pershing, Nevada | 8 | 0 | 8 | |
| Mariposa, California | 7 | 0 | 7 |
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.