What is the difference between a placer claim and a lode claim

The two types of mining claims are lode and placer. In addition, mill sites and tunnel sites may be located to provide support facilities for lode and placer mining claims 43 CFR Part Lode claims cover classic veins or lodes having well-defined boundaries and also include other rock in-place bearing valuable mineral deposits.

Examples include quartz or other veins bearing gold or other metallic mineral deposits and large volume, but low-grade disseminated metallic deposits, such as Carlin-type gold deposits and copper-bearing granites. Lode claims are usually located as parallelograms with the side lines parallel to the vein or lode.

Descriptions are by metes-and-bounds surveys giving the length and compass bearing of each boundary line from a central point or monument to each corner post, and then sequentially around the perimeter of the claim.

Federal statute limits a lode claim to a maximum of 1, feet in length along the vein or lode. Their width is a maximum of feet, feet on either side of the centerline of the vein or lode. The end lines of the lode claim must be parallel to qualify for underground extralateral rights.

Extralateral rights involve the rights to minerals in vein or lode form that extend at depth outside the vertical boundaries of the claim. Placer Claims cover all those deposits not subject to lode claims. Originally, placer claims included only deposits of mineral-bearing sand and gravel containing free gold or other detrital minerals. By Congressional acts and judicial interpretations, many nonmetallic bedded or layered deposits, such as gypsum and high-calcium limestone, are located as placer claims.

The maximum size a placer claim may be is 20 acres. An association of two locators may locate 40 acres, and three may locate 60 acres, etc. Locatable minerals include both metallic minerals gold, silver, lead, etc. It is nearly impossible to list all locatable minerals because of the complex legal requirements for discovery. Lode Claims - Deposits subject to lode claims include classic veins or lodes having well-defined boundaries.

They also include other rock in- place bearing valuable minerals and may be broad zones of mineralized rock. Examples include quartz or other veins bearing gold or other metallic minerals and large volume, but low-grade disseminated gold deposits. Descriptions are by metes and bounds surveys beginning at the discovery point on the claim and including a reference to natural objects or permanent monuments.

Federal statute limits their size to a maximum of feet in length, and a maximum width of feet feet on either side of the vein. Placer Claims - Placer claims are defined as " Placer claims, where practicable, are located by legal subdivision aliquot part and complete lots.

The maximum size is 20 acres per locator, and the maximum for an association placer is acres for 8 or more locators. The maximum size for a corporation is 20 acres per claim.

Corporations may not locate association placer claims unless they are in association with other locators or corporations as co-locators. Mill Sites - A mill site must be located on "non-mineral lands" and must be noncontiguous to the lode or placer with which it is associated. Its purpose is to support a lode or placer mining operation. Descriptions are by metes and bounds if on unsurveyed land and by legal subdivision if on surveyed lands.

The maximum size is 5 acres.