Mining claim activity on public land overseen by the Bureau of Land Management was relatively slow and small but positive over the month of September. While the number of mining claims staked in September 2016 was 80% less than the number staked in September 2015, it remained a positive trend given the 1,416 staked claims remained ten times greater than the number of claims abandoned over the month. Surprisingly, Utah, which only ranks five among US states for the number of active mining claims, outshone even Nevada for the number of mining claims staked over the month of September. Comparing 2016 performance to 2015, it looks like this surprise has more to do with a dramatic decrease of claims staked in usually more active states. Nevada had 93% fewer claims staked in September 2016 than in September 2015.
Nationwide Trends
In September 2016, 1,416 mines were staked on public land overseen by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) for mining purposes. This is compared to 7,384 staked in September 2015—a month-over-month increase of 5,968 mines. September’s trends contribute to an annual net increase of 22,406 active mines between 2016 (365,790 active mines) and 2015 (343,384 active mines). 29,653 acres were acquired with these 1,416 staked mines. That is a decrease of 122,975.77 acres in contrast to the 152,629 acres claimed in September 2015.
While 1,416 mining claims were staked through the BLM in September, 136 mines were abandoned over the same month. This is a decrease of 41,142 mines as opposed to September 2015 when there were 41,278 abandoned mines. 4,277 acres were released with these 136 closed mines. This is 929,664.50 fewer acres released in September compared to the 933,941 released in the same month in 2015.
| September 2016 | September 2015 | Net | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Active Claims | 365,790 | 343,384 | 22,406 | 6.53% |
| Staked Claims | 1,416 | 7,384 | 5,968 | 80.82% |
| Staked Acres | 29,653 | 152,629 | 122,975.77 | 80.57% |
| Abandoned Claims | 136 | 41,278 | 41,142 | 99.67% |
| Abandoned Acres | 4,277 | 933,941 | 929,664.50 | 99.54% |
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 182,159 active mines, accounting for 49.8% of the overall mining mines in the United States. This is 137,982 more mines than Arizona, the second most active state, which hosts 44,177 mining mines and accounts for 12.08% of the overall mining mines in the United States. Wyoming has 8,349 fewer mine than Arizona, making it the third most active state, with 35,828 mining mines—12.08% of the active mining mines overseen by the BLM.
| State | September 2016 (Active Mines) |
September 2015 (Active Mines) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 182,159 | 168,134 | 14,025 | 8.34% |
| Arizona | 44,177 | 40,536 | 3,641 | 8.98% |
| Wyoming | 35,828 | 36,176 | 348 | 0.96% |
| California | 22,237 | 20,874 | 1,363 | 6.53% |
| Utah | 19,393 | 18,408 | 985 | 5.35% |
Chart 2: States By Active Mine
in the United States Of America
Staked Mines In September
Utah, Arizona, and Nevada gained the greatest number of mining mines staked on public land over September 2016. Utah experienced the most significant growth, with 294 mines staked—a decrease of 42 compared to September 2015. This is 50 more mines than Arizona, which gained 244 mining mines in September—1,685 less than September last year. Nevada has 7 fewer staked mines than Arizona, with a total of 237 staked mines—compared to 3,760 in September 2016.
| State | September 2016 (Staked Mines) |
September 2015 (Staked Mines) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | 294 | 336 | 42 | 12.5% |
| Arizona | 244 | 1,929 | 1,685 | 87.35% |
| Nevada | 237 | 3,760 | 3,523 | 93.7% |
| Idaho | 218 | 212 | 6 | 2.83% |
| Colorado | 169 | 191 | 22 | 11.52% |
Abandoned Mines In September
Idaho, Utah, and Arizona had the most abandoned BLM mining claims over the course of September 2016. Idaho is distinguished by its 42 abandoned mines, the most closed that month and 3,348 less than September 2016. This is 16 more mines than Utah, which lost 26 mining claims—a decrease of 2,067 mines from last September. Arizona jettisoned 0 fewer mines than Utah. The 26 mining mines abandoned in Arizona are 4,206 fewer than September last year.
| State | September 2016 (Abandoned Mines) |
September 2015 (Abandoned Mines) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 42 | 3,390 | 3,348 | 98.76% |
| Utah | 26 | 2,093 | 2,067 | 98.76% |
| Arizona | 26 | 4,232 | 4,206 | 99.39% |
| Nevada | 25 | 20,799 | 20,774 | 99.88% |
| Oregon | 6 | 575 | 569 | 98.96% |
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 28,759 active mines. The county accounts for 7.86% of the overall mining mines in the United States. This is 6,344 more mines than Eureka County, Nevada which hosts 22,415 mining mines and accounts for 6.13% of the overall mining mines in the United States. Lander County, Nevada has 1,132 fewer mines than Eureka, with 21,283 mining mines—6.13% of the active mining mines overseen by the BLM.
| County | September 2016 (Active Mines) |
September 2015 (Active Mines) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Elko, Nevada | 28,759 | 28,392 | 367 | 1.29% |
| Eureka, Nevada | 22,415 | 21,926 | 489 | 2.23% |
| Lander, Nevada | 21,283 | 19,865 | 1,418 | 7.14% |
| Humboldt, Nevada | 19,926 | 19,618 | 308 | 1.57% |
| Nye, Nevada | 19,665 | 17,192 | 2,473 | 14.38% |
Staked Mines In September
Garfield, Mohave, and Mineral counties gained the greatest number of mining mines staked on public land over September 2016. Garfield County, Utah experienced the most significant growth, with 275 mines staked—a 264 increase compared to September 2015. This is 117 more mines than Mohave County, Arizona which gained 158 mining mines in September—117 less than September last year. Mineral County, Nevada has 87 fewer staked mines than Mohave, with 71 staked mines—compared to 216 in September 2016.
| County | September 2016 (Staked Mines) |
September 2015 (Staked Mines) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garfield, Utah | 275 | 11 | 264 | 2,400% |
| Mohave, Arizona | 158 | 275 | 117 | 42.55% |
| Mineral, Nevada | 71 | 216 | 145 | 67.13% |
| Lemhi, Idaho | 69 | 32 | 37 | 115.63% |
| Pershing, Nevada | 53 | 287 | 234 | 81.53% |
Abandoned Mines In September
Pinal, Idaho, and Tooele counties had the most abandoned BLM mining claims over the course of September 2016. Pinal County, Arizona is distinguished by its 18 abandoned mines, the most closed that month and 320 less than September 2015. This is 0 more mines than Idaho County, Idaho, which lost 18 mining claims—a decrease of 265 mines from last September. Tooele County, Utah jettisoned 5 fewer mines than Idaho. The 13 mining mines abandoned in Tooele County are 170 fewer than September last year.
| County | September 2016 (Abandoned Mines) |
September 2015 (Abandoned Mines) |
Net | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pinal, Arizona | 18 | 338 | 320 | 94.67% |
| Idaho, Idaho | 18 | 283 | 265 | 93.64% |
| Tooele, Utah | 13 | 183 | 170 | 92.9% |
| Pershing, Nevada | 9 | 1,003 | 994 | 99.1% |
| Custer, Idaho | 8 | 172 | 164 | 95.35% |
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.