How to File Your Own Mining Claim
and Save Thousands
Stop paying $5,000–$50,000 for claims on eBay. The BLM filing fee is just $274. This guide shows you exactly how claim sellers do it — so you can do it yourself.
The Math Most Prospectors Don't Know
$5,000+
Average claim price on eBay
$274
BLM filing fee (your cost)
$4,726
What you save per claim
What Claim Sellers Don't Want You to Know
Every mining claim listed on eBay for $5,000, $10,000, or even $50,000 was staked by someone who paid the BLM exactly $274 in filing fees. That's it. The land is public — owned by the federal government. The minerals are free to claim under the General Mining Law of 1872.
The sellers aren't doing anything wrong. They're doing research, driving to remote locations, physically staking the claim, filing paperwork, and selling the result. But the paperwork? It's not complicated. And the research? We'll show you exactly how they find productive areas.
The 5-Step Process (Overview)
- Research — Find open BLM land with mineral potential
- Stake — Visit the site and place physical monuments
- Record — File a Location Notice with the county recorder
- Register — File BLM Form 3830-1 within 90 days
- Maintain — Pay $200/year or file a Small Miner's Waiver
Total cost: $274 for filing ($25 processing + $49 location + $200 maintenance). Plus your county recording fee (typically $10–$30). That's it.
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