20-Acre Federal Gold Mining Claim - Hidden Springs #1

The placer gold claim offered here is a 20-acre placer mining claim: Hidden Springs #1, AZ106784998. The claim is in Section 24, Township 7 North, Range 4 West. This claim is situated in the S 1/2 SE 1/4 NW 1/4, SEC24 T7N R4W, Gila Salt River Base and Meridian, Arizona. It is approximately 5.5 miles Southeast of Wickenburg by way the crow flies, 5.5 miles North of Morristown. This claim lies 3.5 miles Southwest of the Carson mine, 1 mile East of the Golden Dragon mine, 1.25 miles upstrike from the active permitted Rogers Wash Placer Mining operation historically averaging 2 grams per yard, and 5 miles West of the Active Trilby Pit.

This claim lies directly on a main strike of the major lode trend that has supplied a large amount of the placer gold in the legendary San Domingo and Little San Domingo (also known as LSD) placer strikes. It is also near club claims where nuggets weighing up to 11 ounces have been found, and on the same alluvial flow where I have personally found nuggets up to 1/4 ounce. On one of Old Man Thompson's last trips out before he passed away (Easter of 1976), he showed me nuggets he obtained on an nearby claim with a metal detector (a now prehistoric Fisher) that weighed up to 7 ounces. A rich area indeed. This claim is 660 feet downstream from a patented 40 acre placer gold claim with a hand dug well and an old house site. Only the richest of rich placer claims were granted patent. This claim is 1/4 mile upstream from another patented 40 acres containing Sanger Dam. Sanger Dam has been there since the late 1800's, and was originally constructed to work placer gold in the San Domingo Placer Belt. This claim is also 2.25 miles Northwest of two extremely rich 40 acre patented gold placer claims where old man Goode made his fortune. This claim also lies Southwest of five lode claims patented in the very early 1900's (1903 to 1909), and just South of the famous patented Monarch Mine. Many patented claims are merely base metal patents. These are gold lode patents.

There are 3 access routes to this claim. The main trail in can be traversed by a seasoned desert rat in a 2WD high clearance pickup or SUV, but 4WD is recommended for those less experienced. Wide, all season tires are recommended for loose sand.

The old 1880's Wickenburg to Phoenix Stage Line Road runs less than a mile east of this claim and the ruins of several of the old stage stops can still be seen along this route, along with numerous ruins of old miners cabins. The ruins of "Martian" Mary's cabin are near by this claim in the San Domingo, and the ruins of the Hasting's house and placer workings are close to this claim. Old ore wagon trails provide access to this claim.

Gold has more than doubled in price in the past 10 years alone. At the rate it is soaring, we will soon be selling 20 acre claims for $25,000. Get yours now!

The Hidden Springs #1 mining claim has been tested, and it contains good gold along with other valuable minerals and gemstones.

Other gemstones, lapidary rough, and salable mineral specimens to be found on the claim include picture jasper (most mines sell good quality picture jasper rough for 10 to 20 dollars a pound), chalcedony, zoisite, corundum, calcium carbonate, fluorescent minerals, Epidote, beautiful pegmatite associated gemstones such as Moonstone and Red sunstone; Ametrine, Smoky Quartz, Harlequin Quartz, Tangerine Quartz, Lepidolite, Fuchsite, Chlorargyrite (Silver), Mica; rare Pegmatite minerals such as Lithium and associated minerals; Gold and Silver minerals in Quartz, Black Schorl Tourmaline, Tourmalated Quartz,and REAL GEM HEMATITE (not the man made "Hemalyke" that is generally sold as real Hematite. If your "Hematite" has a choncoidal fracture, then it is the manmade "Hemalyke", and not the far more rare natural Gem Hematite)! All a person would need to do to recover their purchase price on this claim is simply gather, cut, cab, and sell a few hundred pounds of any one of the varieties of gemstone found on this claim. After that, THE GOLD IS GRAVY!! As a matter of fact, almost any gemstone or mineral found on several hundred acres of the world famous San Domingo placer belt can be found on this claim.

The core of the San Domingo Mining District features ancient Precambrian (Paleo-proterozoic) crystaline rocks including granite, gneiss, and schist.

Overlying portions of this older basement are Tertiary volcanic and sub-volcanic rocks --primarily basalt, andesite, and dacite-- dating roughly from 41 to 7 million years ago (Late Eocene to Late Miocene).

Portions of the district interface with NeoProterozoic pegmatites (approx. 1.0 to 0.54 billion years old) and contact-metamorphic skarn zones containing garnet and epidote.

Although the histology of the gold occurences in this region are far too complex to address within this simple listing without the time it takes to gain a Master's Degree in Mineralogy, Geology, Metallurgy, and Hydrology, it can simply be said that primary Gold and Metal occurences generally stem from Quartz veins in Precambrian basement, alongside localized Tungsten (Scheelite), Molybdenum, and Copper mineralization associated with Skarn and replacement bodies.

The world famous San Domingo Placers are concentrated along San Domingo Wash, Little San Domingo Wash, Old Woman Gulch, Rogers Wash, Spring Gulch, and Sanger Gulch. The gold is coarse, angular, and high-fineness (0.925 to 0.965) typically concentrated near the bedrock and spread throughout terrace gravels and benches.

Originally discovered and heavily worked by hand from 1870 to 1880, individual miners were taking out $15 to $100 per day in coarse, angular gold nuggets. The price of gold during this period was $20.67 per ounce, meaning miners were taking out up to 4.83 ounces per day working by hand.

This claim is slightly downstrike from where 26.75 ounce, 11 ounce, 7 ounce, and 3 ounce nuggets were found over the last few decades. I have been prospecting this area for 50 years and have personally witnessed these events. I learned a lot from the old timers during my youth and now I am The Old Timer.

There are several good sized gullies on this claim in which the placer gold is replenished from alluvial pediments every year by winter and monsoon rains. There is a great amount of gravel on this claim that could be worked with quite some success with heavy equipment. The gold is also concentrated enough to be worked by hand and be worth your time.

You wont have your mining restricted to 3 months out of the year, as there are no endangered fish or other aquatic wildlife here. Although this claim is not located in lush forest, it also is not buried under 6 feet of snow 9 months out of the year, and closed to access due to fire danger the other three months, you don't have to bring your own oxygen, you wont have to grow webbed feet and gills, and therefore this would make a wonderful winter escape for the snow/rain/flood/humidity weary miner or outdoor enthusiast, or would-be sun worshiper. This claim contains some of the most beautiful and regal desert wildlife in the entire Southwest. I would say it is definitely "Arizona Highways" class scenery.

The Hidden Springs #1 claim is on the same strike as a claim group (Jubilation #1,2,and 3) we have held since 1974.

In the test results pictured here, I worked a total of 3 five gallon buckets of material from the listed claim. A good amount of coarse untraveled crystalline gold, and possibly platinum bearing hematite, barite, scheelite (tungsten silicate), corundum, and bismuth was found. Recent analysis of placer concentrates from a nearby placer operation we were permitting indicate substantial amounts of the rare earth elements Cerium and Lanthunum (these REE'S are contained in Monozite, which concentrate well with gold), as well as Cobalt, Copper, Gallium, Manganese, Molybdenum, Niobium, Tantalum, Strontium, Vanadium, Tungsten, Yttrium, and Zinc. All of the gold in the pictures below, came from JUST 3 five gallon BUCKETS OF DIRT! That means that there is possibly 14.67 times this amount in a yard of material from this claim.

Why Buy From Us? Five Generations of Arizona Mining Experience Matters

Over the past years, we have spoken with countless prospectors who came to us after investing their hard-earned money in Arizona gold claims that simply didn't deliver. This raises an important question for any buyer: How do you choose a gold claim seller you can truly trust?

The 20-Year Track Record

Before you purchase, always check the seller's history. If a seller’s name does not appear in official mining records from at least 20 years ago, it is worth taking a step back. True gold mining is a craft built on decades of boots-on-the-ground experience—not overnight internet marketing.

Deep-Rooted Knowledge You Can Trust

Our family has been in the mining industry for five generations. We have been actively selling quality Arizona gold claims since 2001, backed by more than 50 years of personal, hands-on prospecting and mining experience. When you are investing your hard-earned money, that kind of deep, local expertise truly counts.

What is a Quality Arizona Gold Claim Worth?

We are frequently asked what a fair price looks like for a legitimate, gold-bearing claim. My Grandfather Leland and Uncle Hobart always taught me that a quality, 20-acre claim is worth roughly the same as a good, reliable used pickup truck. Over the last 50 years, that wisdom has held true.

If you see a 20-acre gold claim priced at $10,000 or less, it is important to ask why. Often, these lower-priced claims completely lack geological potential, historical production, or the proper legal paperwork required to protect your investment.

Buyer Beware: Protecting Your Investment

If you see another claim for sale within ten miles of our listings that is not offered by our company, we encourage you to exercise extreme caution. In many cases, these are areas we have already extensively surveyed and intentionally left open because they lacked sufficient mineral value. Under federal mining law, land without proven mineral character cannot form a valid mining claim.

Filing paperwork and driving stakes into the ground does not make a claim legally valid, especially when done by an inexperienced locator. We regularly see novice sellers describe boundaries on their location notices that do not even exist on a map—rendering the claim void from the very beginning ( ab initio ). Don't risk your hard-earned money on invalid paperwork.

Real Results, Proven Longevity

When deciding where to purchase your next gold claim, look for time-tested Arizona experience rather than modern marketing.

Limited Availability: The Last San Domingo Claims

These last few claims we have for sale in the San Domingo Mining District are generation heirloom quality. The best were saved for last as they were intended for future family generation production.

Other mining companies have come in and staked up anything available, and large-scale placers have been permitted and are in production. These claims are the last claims available on this legendary historic strike.

Our roots run five generations deep, and we are committed to guiding you honestly.

Many of our customers have proudly held onto their claims for more than 20 years—a track record that speaks for itself. In fact, one of our buyers found an impressive amount of gold within their very first two weeks on-site! We are here to ensure your next prospecting adventure starts on the right ground.

The most spectacular, grand, and rare horticultural specimens on earth reside nearby. "Crested" Saguaro(pronounced suh-WAR-oh), the result of a genetic mutation which only occurs in 1 in 150,000 Saguaros. This mutation results in a "Crest" on the top of the cactus that looks like the comb on a rooster. Some of these specimens are far more impressive than others. In 40 years of desert exploration, I have cataloged 12 of these specimens, and this one is by far the largest and most spectacular of them all. Although this specimen is easily worth $150,000.00, it belongs to the Public, is protected by the Federal Government, and theft or damage of this specimen is a felony. Any potential "cactus rustlers" reading this listing should take note that all of the above mentioned specimens have been implanted with microchips, and can be tracked.

Extremely rare Crested Saguaros on nearby claims.

These are the Mandatory basic tools of the trade:

First picture, going from right to left: 1) A number two "muckstick". A good miner can wear out a few dozen of these over several years. If you think you want to be a miner, have somebody hand you one of these. Your hand should instinctively grasp it firmly, and the shovel should begin to "sing." Any hardened underground stiff knows what I'm talking about (I have handed some people a shovel and seen their hand spring open and the shovel fall to the ground. This means they were not cut out for physical labor). After you have had a few years on the end of a "muckstick," when you grab one, some song lyrics should automatically come to mind. "I was born one mornin' when the sun didn't shine I picked up my shovel and I walked to the mine I loaded 16 tons of number 9 coal And the straw boss said "well, a-bless my soul."" 2) A small pick good for detail work. Also good for defense against Mountain Lion attacks if you can't get your "Gat" out fast enough. 3) A full sized pick for roughing out material. 4) A long thin blade standard screwdriver for scratching gold out of cracks in the bedrock. 5 & 6) Loppers and pull saw (these are only needed if your mining rig is "Purty" and you wanna keep it that way. If you drive a "Arizona rig," then the only thing these are good for is clearing the brush around your work area.

This picture is of my standard "shop vac." As you can see, it is 6 horsepower, and pulls 14 amps. Like Bob Villa on "Home Improvement" says: "MORE POWER!" These work twice as well as a gas vac and are only around 100 bucks at Home Depot. Only buy the "Rigid" brand. The "Shop Vac" brand won't hold up to this use. When you get your Rigid, take the filter off and put it in a box. Only bring it with you if you plan on vacuuming your rig once a week or so.

This is the generator that I use to run the Rigid shop vac. They are available at Harbor Freight. They are very dependable and extremely quiet. Not to mention that they cost about 1000 bucks less than the name brand.

This medium sized drywasher I purchased from Travis at Pro Gold in Youngtown, Az.

This is the leaf blower motor that I use to run my drywasher. They are available for around 80 bucks at most hardware stores. I use an RV sewer line for air transfer.

Heavy guage extension cords are a must to run power from the generator to the vacuum. They also work well for discharging static buildup inside the vacuum.

Buckets....You can never have enough buckets.

Lush High Sonoran Desert Vegetation on the claim and in the area.

Giant Saguaros guard the treasures on the claim. These stately sentinels have stood for many a century on this claim and in the area.

Old World War 1 claim marker on the border of the Hidden Springs #1.

Amygdaloidal Basalt on the claim. When gas bubbles became trapped in cooling lava flows in th San Domingo strike, they created a vesicular basalt. Over long periods of time, these vesicles (amygdules) and fractures were filled with minerals from percolating hydrothermals and cooler spring water.

These minerals can be rather complex, including rare and highly valuable pseudomorph specimens. Many of which are multi-fluorescent. These include, but are not limited to calcite, chalcedony, agate, opal, aragonite (a polymorph of calcite), zeolites (stilbite, heulandite, natrolite, vanadium, manganese, lithium, high purity silica).

Arizona ranks among the top producers of zeolites in the United States. Chabazite Zeolites are pelletized and deployed nationally for nuclear waste remediation (stripping radioactive elements out of water) and scrubbing carbon dioxide from natural gas lines. Arizona's late-stage hydrothermal volcanic systems— Maricopa County—contain famous deposits of common and precious opal and agate variants. Because the Department of Energy officially added silica to its critical materials list, these high-purity amorphous structures are increasingly viewed as strategic assets for advanced optics, solar energy cells, and electronics manufacturing. Manganese (Mn) & Battery Minerals: Hydrothermal solutions that alter vesicular basalts to precipitate calcite and aragonite frequently coat these same cavities with dark manganese oxides. Historically, Arizona fields have mined these exact cavity-associated manganese systems, which are now prized globally for manufacturing next-generation EV battery chemistries. Lithium (Li) Potential: As groundwater over millions of years leaches through these porous vesicular basalts and reacts with the clay-and-zeolite matrix, it concentrates lithium. Arizona’s volcanic-associated basins are currently undergoing high-intensity exploration for lithium brine and clay horizons.

Testing on the Hidden Springs #1. Cleaning out the "clay cracks" in the bedrock is essential to finding good gold. The better you detail it, the more gold you get.

Cassia flowers bloom on the claim and in the area.

Northwest corner of the Hidden Springs #1.

Low lying areas, washes, gullies and depressions have been concentrating gold on the claim for thousands of years.

Huge trees on the claim mean a shallow water table.

Fairy Dusters dance in the morning light.

This is a very old (late 1800s) miner's stash hole found on the claim.

Southwest corner and location monument for the Hidden Springs #1.

Northeast corner of Hidden Springs #1.

Southeast corner of the Hidden Springs #1.

Shallow and Jagged bedrock on the claim makes for easy pickings for the prospector.

Seasonal seep springs on and around the claim provide hundreds of gallons of water during normal winter and spring cycles.

The washes on this claim contain a massive amount of heavy black sand gold concentrates.

Stunning Sonoran Vistas can be seen from this claim.

Gold producing geological features and structures are numerous and easily spotted on this claim.

In the test results pictured here, I worked a total of 3 five gallon buckets of material from the listed claim. A good amount of coarse untraveled crystalline gold, and possibly platinum bearing hematite, barite, scheelite (tungsten silicate), corundum, and bismuth was found. Recent analysis of placer concentrates from a nearby placer operation we were permitting indicate substantial amounts of the rare earth elements Cerium and Lanthunum (these REE'S are contained in Monozite, which concentrate well with gold), as well as Cobalt, Copper, Gallium, Manganese, Molybdenum, Niobium, Tantalum, Strontium, Vanadium, Tungsten, Yttrium, and Zinc. All of the gold in the pictures below, came from JUST 3 five gallon BUCKETS OF DIRT! That means that there is possibly 14.67 times this amount in a yard of material from this claim.

The Herbal Kingdom imitates the Insect Kingdom as a Sundrop delicately spreads its new wings. Oenothera Primiveris of the Onagracea family (Bottle Evening Primrose, also known as a "Sundrop") waste no time in taking advantage of the end of a 10 year drought.

A carpet of wildflowers covers the claim each spring and early summer.

The Easter Bunny on a scouting trip to the Wickenburg area claims.

Some of the local denizens in the area.

I was 9 years old when I placed this corner post with my dad. My dad cut aircraft aluminum, drew in the letters and had me imprint them with a hammer and screwdriver. I asked him why, and he said "Because it will be there when I am gone, and it will be there when you are gone." He went over the Divide a long time ago, and I am over 60, so I guess he was right.

There actually is gold at the end of this rainbow.

Globe Mallow, one of the many useful herbs on the claim.

The Staghorn Cholla opens its blooms to the Spring morning sun.

A Phainopepla Nitens feasts on Desert Mistletoe berries in the spring.

Remnants of Hurricane "Paul" roll across the desert. These are the late summer storms that are hard on the roads, but replenish the gold in the low lying areas.

One of the many useful herbs in the Sonoran Desert, the Desert Hackberry produces in profusion.

Old well on nearby patented property. Cabin site was in the area at the upper right of the first picture. These pictures were taken before the winter rains. I just checked this well a little while back, and the water table is still visible.

There is a herd of Mule Deer that beds nearby during the day, and waters twice daily at a nearby Creek, along with the Quail, Dove, Cardinals, Sparrows, Thrushes, Hawks, Owls, Eagles, Rabbits, Raccoons, Badgers, Silver and Red Fox, Coyotes, Javalina, Bobcat, Burros, and the list goes on ad infinum.

More local residents, the old timer's ore haulers.

Summer Monsoons roll into the Bradshaws to replenish the desert.

A picture is worth a thousand words! Dawn of another glorious Arizona day!

The days begin and end in a blaze of glory in Arizona! Another famous Arizona sunset!

Brill Dam, constructed in the 1880's, built of giant dark purple rhyolite blocks quarried on site, has long been one of my "Secret Places" where I have cooled my heels and healed my soul since I was a child. This dam is on patented land, immediately above the confluence of Willow Spring Creek and the San Domingo, on the San Domingo. Very few people know of this pristine paradise since it is well hidden even from ariel view by huge cottonwood and willow trees.

Deep shafts and ore stockpiles can still be seen on an nearby claim, where they were abandoned at the beginning of World War 2.

The pictures shown of mill equipment are of an antique hard rock mill on our nearby claim. I believe this mill began duty as a processing point for lucrative hard rock gold ore from surrounding claims, and was subsequently converted to a niobium/tantalum mill when high grade columbite was discovered nearby in 1967. Tantalum currently sells for $50 per oz., and some varieties of the columbite crystals from which Tantalum is extracted sell for thousands of dollars each!!

Although this property contains gold, your prospecting options here will not be limited to those, for on the property, or within a short drive from this miner's paradise are to be found more geological treasures than I have time or space to list, but list a brief sampling I shall. There are gem grade spessartine and grossular garnet, extremely rare columbite (tantalite/niobium) crystals in pegmatite with muscovite and crystalline quartz, travertine, serpentine, malachite, azurite, brochantite, ajoite, shattuckite, barite, beryl, bornite, calcite, fluorite, fluorescent minerals of mind boggling variety and intensity, gem silica chrysocolla, turquoise, crocoite, wulfentie, vanadinite, cuprite, diopside, dioptase, dumortierite, epidote, halite, hematite, hemihedrite, linarite, peridot, almost any form of quartz conceivable (magnificent red, black, pink and yellow crystals, scepter amethyst, smokey quartz, rose quartz, saganite, chalcedony, fortification agate, fire agate, petrified wood, and just recently, I found some giant purple rhyolite geodes with spectacular citrine crystals inside!), rare earth, platinum, Apache tears, giant black schorl tourmaline crystals, monsterous beryl crystals, topaz, jasper, and the list goes on!

Black sands in the area are very heavy and metallic containing gold, magnetite, hematite, zircon, garnet, nickel, chromium, titanium, tungsten, tantalum, noibium, trace platinates, etc., etc., ad infinum.

A small sampling of gemstones we have mined in the area

(these are not from the claim and are not for sale).

A SMALL SAMPLING OF GOLD NUGGETS PANNED FROM THE SAN DOMINGO. (not for sale). Gold from this region is of the finest purity and character.

Flora and Fauna are unbelievably profuse in the area, with visitors ranging from the occasional mountain lion to the ever present and inquisitive Gambel's Quail.

This is a virtual open-air aviary with a plethora of peregrine and other falcon, many varieties of hawk, eagle and owl, scrub jays, the raucous blue jay, turkey vultures, crows, cardinal, finch, sparrow, robin, lark, wren, mourning dove, hummingbird, and the list goes on.

A Hawk guards the memorial to Rattlesnake Lil's son. He was killed in WWII and this memorial has stood since then with the locals help after Rattlesnake Lil died.

Giant Turkey Vulture guarding her young.

The Turkey Vulture takes powerful flight as I approach her nest.

The mammals on and around the property are regal in size due to the plenitude of forage and water in the area. Boone and Crocket class mule deer come to water at the seasonal creek, as well as javelina, cotton tail, jack rabbit, squirrel, raccoon, mountain lion, bobcat, silver fox, coyote, and the occasional lobo wolf.

In the evening the antics of the bats and nighthawks in pursuit of insects are quite comical.

The rising of the full moon over the Bradshaws, seen through the forest of saguaros (some of whom were seedlings when this country was young) in this area, would bring goose bumps to the skin of the most aristocratic world traveler, jaded by repeated viewing of the most awe inspiring vistas on earth.

In this area, in the spring and early summer, carpets of wild flowers and useful medicinal herbs in season are infinitely diverse in color and variety; a person could spend a lifetime learning the names and properties of them all.

Jojoba bushes are one of the most useful herbs here providing a yearly bountiful crop of Jojoba beans, from which the elixer of life is extracted, and used to produce many of the widely used health care products available today.

World class candies and jellies are made from the fruit of the Prickly Pear cactus, and the fruits, along with other cactus fruits, were a staple food for the Native Americans in the desert. The "meat" of the pad, if eaten raw, has been said to treat Diabetes in any form.

This area is a true entomologists fantasy, with several hundred varieties of butterfly alone; a walk alone in a flight of millions of monarchs is an awestruck communing with Original Intelligence.

The reptiles in the area are rather inquisitive. Reptile watching in this area is fabulous, with varieties ranging from smaller blue whiptail lizards and orange geckos up through larger horned lizards, collared lizards, spiny lizards, chuckwallas, desert iguanas (pictured below), all the way up to the rather large (to 24") Gila Monsters.

Speaking of Gila Monsters, I recently came across a very large one sunning himself on some rocks. It is hard to tell from the pictures, but this guy's (or girl's) head was about the size of my fist! If you come across one of these out in the wild, stay back and take a few pictures, but DON'T try to pick it up because it is poisonous and protected.

Recently, during my frequent wanderings in this area, I came across an extremely rare find! A large female Desert Tortoise! In 39 years of desert wandering, this is only the 4th and by far the largest I've ever seen. If you run across one of these quiet creatures, be very careful not to disturb it or any nest nearby, as they are very endangered. Take your pictures and leave it in peace.

Well, it seems the grizzled old prospector has been caught prattling on about nothing again, and must return to the description of the claim offered here. This claim for sale is a 20 acre unpatented mining claim, and although there is a current moratorium on patenting claims, it comes up for review each year. There is a 40 acre patented placer claim nearby to the east on hard caliche with very little flora and fauna. It was patented in 1994, and its current estimated value is around $1,200,000.00! If you file your paperwork every year, you will be first in line to file patent on this claim if the moratorium is lifted. Unfortunately, you would be paying taxes on this property after that point in time.

I am in no way guaranteeing that this is the way it will work for you. I am merely stating that this is the way it has worked for countless other private citizens and developers who have built golf courses, shopping centers, and resort homes over the tops of still rich mines. Which brings up another subject. Upon payment in full of this claim, we will take care of the transfer of ownership papers and file them for you at no extra charge. We will also give you instructions on yearly paperwork filing. This claim is fully and legally staked, posted, and located, and the paperwork is up to date. This claim is close to the exclusive world famous old west town of Wickenburg, Arizona, which has a corporate jet compatible/ state of the art airport, and world class golf course. Although this claim is not too far from multi million dollar homes with private airstrips and in house hangars with acres of prize horse housing, private arenas, tennis courts, and so on, it is also at the end of the line, the jumping off point for civilization, for it is quite near the Hell's Gate and Castle Creek federal wilderness areas.

So you can see, whether you are a hermit philosopher (like me!) looking for solitude and commune with nature, a corporate jet-setter, or anything in between, this claim is on the perfect multi use land for you! If you are an off road A.T.V. enthusiast, there are thousands of miles of pristine marked and mapped trails that could not be explored in a lifetime with a freighter of fuel!

For the western horseman/person this is the fantasy of a lifetime, the views are spectacular, springs everywhere, and working ranches numerous. The hard core bass fishing/watersports enthusiast will be happy to know that there is world class bass tournament fishing with a well appointed resort marina 20 nautical miles to the east at the 14,000 surface acre Lake Pleasant on the Agua Fria River! This is also not a membership claim that has been picked over by thousands of other members, and you don't have to worry about somebody moving in on your "glory hole" in the afternoon when you quit for the day and cleaning out the 12 ounce pocket you left behind (this really happened on a membership claim!).

I am including pictures of the claim papers, and pictures of a map of the claim area. I am also including, in this listing, topo maps of the area to help you locate it in a general area. The red mark indicates the area of the claim. I have made it as accurate as I can without drafting software. :-).

Important Disclosure: Understanding Federal Unpatented Mining Claims

The following critical consumer information regarding your rights and responsibilities is provided directly by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).

As a responsible seller, I want to ensure you are fully informed before making your purchase. Purchasing a mining claim from a private seller on the internet carries specific legal and operational frameworks. Please review these official guidelines carefully to understand what you are purchasing.

📌 Specific Claim Information & Verification Details

Buyers can use the official data below to verify the active status of this claim with the BLM and county records prior to purchasing.

BLM Claim Name: Hidden Springs #1

BLM Serial Number: AZ106784998

County Recorded: Maricopa County

County Record Document Number: 20260575994

Legal Land Description: South 1/2, Southeast 1/4, Northwest 1/4, Section 24, Township 7 North, Range 4 West, Gila and Salt River Base and Meridian, Maricopa County, Arizona

Claim Type: Placer Claim

Claim Size: 20 Acres

⚠️ Important Notice on Buyer Responsibilities & Risks

Regulatory Compliance: Federal, state, and local governments maintain distinct regulations regarding mining operations and environmental reclamation. Buyers must thoroughly research what operations are allowable.

On-Site Physical Liabilities: Unpatented mining claims can contain historic, residual hazardous materials, old mine shafts, or open workings. By purchasing a claim, the buyer accepts all long-term safety, environmental, and financial remediation responsibilities for the site.

No Government Refunds: Transactions between private parties are strictly civil matters. The BLM will not refund money exchanged between buyers and sellers if a claim is later found to conflict with existing boundaries or lands closed to mineral entry.

🔍 Key Facts About Unpatented Mining Claims

1. Ownership & Property Rights

Mineral Rights Only: An unpatented mining claim is a unique form of property. It is not private real estate . Your legal right is strictly restricted to the exploration, development, and extraction of mineral deposits at the site.

Surface Control: The United States government retains full ownership and management of the land surface and its natural surface resources.

No Public Exclusion: Holding a claim absolutely does not give you the right to fence off the public, post "No Trespassing" signs, or restrict public land users from crossing the area for recreation or accessing federal lands beyond your boundaries.

Abandoned Equipment: Any historic structures, buildings, or equipment left on an abandoned claim become federal property. A mining claim does not confer private property rights to these items unless it is legally verified that a previous claimant placed them and possesses the legal right to transfer them.

2. Usage & Restrictions

Construction Limits: Surface disturbances—including building roads, fences, gates, houses, or tool sheds necessary for mining—must be explicitly authorized in writing by the BLM or Forest Service before you begin construction. Unauthorized building carries heavy federal penalties.

Extended Camping & Occupancy: While casual recreational camping is permitted in open areas, occupying a claim for more than 14 days in a 90-day period requires approval from federal land managers. To legally occupy a site long-term, you must strictly meet all five of these federal requirements:

Hold an approved notice or plan of operations.

Work on the mining activities regularly.

Conduct activities directly related to mineral extraction.

Perform verifiable, on-the-ground activities.

Use appropriate, operable equipment that is subject to active use and maintenance.

3. Record Verification & Markers

Dual Recording Requirement: To maintain validity, a mining claim must be properly recorded with both the local county recorder's office and the BLM.

Physical Markers: Federal and state regulations require claims to feature distinct physical boundaries, including four corner post monuments and a visible monument posted at the discovery point displaying the official location notice on the ground.

📞 Official BLM Arizona Contact Information

Before starting any mining activities, buyers are strongly encouraged to contact the local agency office holding jurisdiction over the claim's territory to discuss their plans and review official regulations ( 43 CFR 3715/3809 for BLM; 36 CFR 228 Part A for the Forest Service).

BLM Arizona State Office One North Central Ave., Suite 800 Phoenix, AZ 85004-4427 Phone: 602-417-9200

Summary of Rules & Disclosures

Attribute / Scenario

Core Federal Rule

Buyer Acknowledgment Required

Surface Land Ownership

Maintained by the United States Public

You cannot restrict public access, hunting, or recreation.

Structures & Buildings

Prohibited without prior agency approval

Do not build without an approved Plan of Operations.

Overlapping Claim Disputes

Private civil matter; BLM will not intervene

Thoroughly research geographic boundaries before bidding.

Claim Status & Record

Must be active with both County and BLM Verify the official BLM serial number provided in this listing.

Environmental Hazards

Transferred completely to the new buyer Accept all financial liability for existing shafts or ground hazards.

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