How to Stake a Mining Claim in New Mexico
New Mexico has 12,926 active mining claims on BLM land, targeting Copper, Uranium, Molybdenum, Potash. Staking a new claim requires following federal procedure under the General Mining Law of 1872 plus state-specific filing requirements.
The Staking Process
Verify land status
Use the BLM Mineral & Land Records System to confirm the land is open for mineral entry. Check for withdrawals, existing claims, and overlapping jurisdictions.
BLM MLRS Portal →Determine claim type
Choose one of four claim types based on the mineral deposit and your intended use:
- Lode claim — vein or rock in place deposits (e.g., gold in quartz)
- Placer claim — loose deposits (e.g., stream gold)
- Mill site — up to 5 acres for processing facilities
- Tunnel site — for tunnel-based exploration
Physically stake the land
Place legally recognized boundary monuments at the corners of your claim. GPS coordinates are now standard practice.
New Mexico-specific: New Mexico mining claim location and recording are governed by NMSA Chapter 69 (Mines). Federal requirements under 43 CFR 3832 apply on BLM-administered lands. [source]
File Notice of Location
File a Certificate of Location with both the county recorder's office and the BLM state office within 90 days of staking. [source]
Pay required fees
Initial filing costs approximately $274 per claim:
- $25 processing fee
- $49 location fee
- $200 annual maintenance fee
Source: 43 CFR 3833. [source]
Annual renewal
Pay the $200 maintenance fee before September 1 each year, or file a Small Miner Waiver if you hold 10 or fewer claims and perform $100 of assessment work.
Missing the September 1 deadline results in automatic forfeiture with no grace period.
New Mexico BLM State Office
BLM New Mexico State Office
301 Dinosaur Trail, Santa Fe, NM 87508
(505) 954-2000
https://www.blm.gov/office/new-mexico-state-officeCounty Recorder Offices
New Mexico Claim Statistics
Sourced from BLM MLRS extract (as of Q2 2026).
Top Claim Holders
Mineral Context
New Mexico hosts claims primarily targeting Copper, Uranium, Molybdenum, Potash.
Notable Districts
Ready to explore New Mexico?
See every active mining claim on the interactive map.