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At what point should I consider filing a claim?
CrazySanMan
post Jul 9 2018, 10:13 AM
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Last fall I found a non-claimed spot where I was digging finger-sized quartz crystal tips. I've been back to the area several times and tried tracing back to the pocket, each time finding bigger crystals as I went. This past weekend I found several quartz crystal tips as big around as my fist, as well as some other mineral crystals, and i began finding some malformed quartz crystals that are still attached to the matrix. I feel like I'm much closer to the originating pocket now and I have a good idea of where it is located.

My question is at what point should I consider filing a claim to dig the pocket? Should I file it now or wait until I actually locate the pocket?
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Clay Diggins
post Jul 9 2018, 10:50 AM
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Quartz has been classified as a "common variety mineral". You can't locate a claim for a common variety mineral. Only a discovery of "valuable minerals" will support a mining claim. Quartz in any of it's ordinary forms (including crystals) is by definition not a valuable mineral nor is the deposit locatable.

There are mineral leasing and purchase schemes available from the BLM and/or Forest Service. If you want to obtain exclusive rights to the quartz crystals you are finding that is your only option. The federal government will expect a significant share of your proceeds as part of the deal.

If you want to hobby collect crystals without paying for a sale you can collect up to 15 pounds per year but you can't sell them.
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CrazySanMan
post Jul 9 2018, 04:43 PM
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Thanks! So I should keep searching and hopefully find a pocket with amazonite or topaz or tourmaline, and then file a claim.

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Clay Diggins
post Jul 11 2018, 12:32 PM
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That might work. Wishing you good luck on your prospecting!
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nate
post Jul 12 2018, 10:12 PM
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best of luck! and you need to give us some pictures!!


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CrazySanMan
post Aug 15 2018, 03:59 PM
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Well darn!

I went back to that area yesterday, found some more crystal points and shards in the float as well as some other indicators of a pocket close by. I dug around for a couple hours and found the point where I was finding points in the float but nothing further up the hill above that point. I decided to break for lunch and the dog and I walked around the area so I could map out more of the claim corner markers in the area. The claim closest to my dig had a brand new marker next to it. It was painted red, white, and gray and said "Weathertop NW corner" on it. Drawing a quick rectangle in my head I was pretty sure I had been digging on that claim. smiley-shocked003.gif

I walked east and couldn't locate the NE corner marker, so I crossed the road to try on that side. Just then I heard someone yell "Hello?". I looked down the hill and my dog was accosting someone down there, jumping up and down and trying to get a treat or get petted. I called my dog back and asked the guy if he had seen any metal posts in the ground around there, since he was walking off-trail also. He said yes, so I went down the hill to talk to him. It turns out he was the new claim owner for the Weathertop claim. He found some amazonite in July and filed the claim about two weeks ago. I showed him where I had just been digging to verify that it was indeed on his new claim. He was very nice and we talked for probably 30-45 minutes about rock hounding and camping and knives and whatnot. He gave me permission to continue my dig and I saw where he had made his discovery, he was about 20 feet below and 30 feet west of where I determined "my" pocket was. That whole hillside must be riddled with pockets. The new owner said he wasn't a member of this forum yet but he had used it a lot and was going to become a member soon. I look forward to seeing him here.

The new claim owner shared his GPS coordinates with me for all the claim markers he knew of in the area. I plan on making a Google Earth map of all the markers and photos of the markers and digs and so on in the Wigwam Creek area, and I'll post a link here on the forum when I do.

The Weathertop mine isn't listed on mylandmatters.org or The Diggings yet, so even if it's somewhere you've dug previously, walk the area to look for new claim markers before each dig!
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Crusty
post Aug 22 2018, 11:32 AM
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Good reminder on how quickly land status can change!

Glad he was a friendly fella!


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