About ClaimScout
ClaimScout makes federal mining claim data accessible and searchable. The Bureau of Land Management maintains records on hundreds of thousands of active mining claims across public lands in the western United States. That data is public, but it has historically been difficult to search, visualize, and monitor.
We built ClaimScout to solve that problem. Our interactive map lets you browse active claim boundaries, filter by state and claim type, and quickly understand the mining claims landscape in any area you are researching.
Data Sources
Bureau of Land Management — MLRS
All mining claim data displayed on ClaimScout is sourced from the BLM Mining Claim Recordation System (MLRS), accessed via the BLM National ArcGIS Feature Service. This is the same authoritative dataset used by BLM field offices for official records.
Specifically, we query the BLM National MLRS Mining Claims (Not Closed) feature layer, which contains all mining claims that have not been formally closed. This includes active claims, pending claims, and claims in various stages of processing.
Claim Types
- Lode Claims — Filed for veins or lodes of minerals found in rock in place. The most common type of mining claim. Limited to 20.66 acres per claim.
- Placer Claims — Filed for mineral deposits found in loose material such as sand, gravel, or alluvium. Typically associated with gold prospecting. Limited to 20 acres per individual, 160 acres per association.
- Mill Sites — Non-mineral land used for mining or milling operations. Limited to 5 acres per site.
- Tunnel Sites — Filed for the right to develop a tunnel to access veins or lodes. Grants the right to all veins discovered within 3,000 feet of the tunnel entrance.
Data Accuracy
ClaimScout presents BLM data as-is, without modification or editorial interpretation. Claim boundaries, names, types, and statuses are displayed exactly as recorded in the MLRS system. We do not guarantee the accuracy of the underlying government records.
Mining claim records can contain surveying discrepancies, delayed status updates, or incomplete filings. For any legal or business decision, we strongly recommend verifying claim details directly with the relevant BLM State Office.
How Updates Work
ClaimScout queries the BLM ArcGIS service in real time. When you search the map, you are seeing current data from BLM servers. There is no intermediary database or cache that could introduce staleness.
Methodology
Our free tier provides direct passthrough of BLM query results, limited to 500 claims per request. Paid tiers enable pagination across the full dataset, enrichment with additional BLM records (filing dates, claimant information, maintenance fee status), and cross-referencing with USGS geological survey data.
Contact
Questions about ClaimScout or the data we present? Reach us at hello@claimscout.com.