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Digital databases containing mining claim density information for Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming created from the BLM Mining Claim Recordation System: 1996

Metadata also available as - [Outline] - [Parseable text] - [DIF]

Frequently-anticipated questions:

What does this data set describe?

Title:
Digital databases containing mining claim density information for Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming created from the BLM Mining Claim Recordation System: 1996
Abstract:
The mining claim density data is contained in 13 databases in Open-File Report 99-325.
Each database was created from data obtained in March, 1997, from the Mining Claim Recordation System of the Bureau of Land Management. The data was analyzed, manipulated, and summarized into a database providing mining claim density information. Each database quantifies the status of mining claim activity on federal land within a state for 1996 and includes information on past mining claim activity on federal land since 1976. A database contains information identifying 1) the general location of mining claims within the Public Land Survey (PLS) system, 2) the number and type of claims (lode, placer, mill site, tunnel site) and 3) the status of the claims in 1976 (open is held, closed is no longer held by a claimant). Other terms used by BLM for closed claims are "Abandoned and Void" and "Void by Operation of the Law". According to BLM, new terminology for "Open" will be "Recorded" and for "Closed" will be "Terminated and Closed".
There is one database for each of the following 13 states. Each database is in dBase 3 and ascii text formats: 
Arizona          blm_az.dbf      blm_az.txt
California       blm_ca.dbf      blm_ca.txt
Colorado         blm_co.dbf      blm_co.txt
Idaho            blm_id.dbf      blm_id.txt
Montana          blm_mt.dbf      blm_mt.txt
Nebraska         blm_ne.dbf      blm_ne.txt
Nevada           blm_nv.dbf      blm_nv.txt
New Mexico       blm_nm.dbf      blm_nm.txt
Oregon           blm_or.dbf      blm_or.txt
South Dakota     blm_sd.dbf      blm_sd.txt
Utah             blm_ut.dbf      blm_ut.txt
Washington       blm_wa.dbf      blm_wa.txt
Wyoming          blm_wy.dbf      blm_wy.txt
Supplemental_Information: This data is in dBase 3 and ascii text formats.
  1. How should this data set be cited?

    Hyndman, Paul C. , and Campbell, Harry W. , 19990525, Digital databases containing mining claim density information for Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming created from the BLM Mining Claim Recordation System: 1996: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 99-325, U.S. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA.

    Online Links:

  2. What geographic area does the data set cover?

    West_Bounding_Coordinate: -125
    East_Bounding_Coordinate: -102
    North_Bounding_Coordinate: 49
    South_Bounding_Coordinate: 31

  3. What does it look like?

  4. Does the data set describe conditions during a particular time period?

    Beginning_Date: 1976
    Ending_Date: Mar-1997
    Currentness_Reference:
    Release date of data by the Bureau of Land Management in March, 1997

  5. What is the general form of this data set?

    Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: database

  6. How does the data set represent geographic features?

    1. How are geographic features stored in the data set?

    2. What coordinate system is used to represent geographic features?

  7. How does the data set describe geographic features?

    blm_XX.dbf
    Summary of values for number and type of mining claims in each section. The data is tied to an MTRS code which represents the Meridian + Township + Range + Section. This code provides a unique identifier for each Section of the PLS. (Source: The Bureau of Land Management is the official source for PLS designations and surveys and for the mining claim data.)

    MTRS
    A concatenation of Meridian, Township, Range, and Section of the PLS (Source: Bureau of Land Management)

    ValueDefinition
    MTRS is an 18-character field which is a concatenation of meridian (M), Township (T), township direction (D), range (R), range direction (E), and section (S). The form of the field is MMTTT.TDRRR.RESS__. The last two spaces were included in the beginning of the study but were not utilized.MM = the FIPS code for meridian. FIPS stands for the Federal Information Processing Standard. The codes for the meridians are: 
    06 - 6th Principal
07 - Black Hills
08 - Boise
14 - Gila & Salt River
15 - Humboldt
20 - Principal
21 - Mount Diablo
22 - Navajo
23 - New Mexico
26 - Salt Lake
27 - San Bernardino
30 - Uintah
31 - Ute
33 - Willamette
34 - Wind River
    TTT.T = BLM Township designation as 'TTT.T' may include a fraction of a Township. For example, Township 1 would be '__1.0'. Township 27 1/2 would be '_27.2'. The underscore represents a blank space. The 'TTT.2' represents the 1/2 township.
    D = BLM Township direction may be North (N) or South (S).
    RRR.R = BLM Range designation as 'RRR.R' which may include a fraction of a Range. See Township (T) for example. The Oregon database also contains a 3/4 Range which is represented by 'RRR.3'.
    E = BLM Range direction may be East (E) or West (W).
    SS = BLM Section number. For example, section 1 is '_1' and section 35 is '35'. Generally the highest section number is 36, but there are exceptions in several States.

    NOLC
    Number of Open (or recorded) Lode Claims within a section (Source: Hyndman and Campbell, 1999)

    ValueDefinition
    (blank)zero

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:194

    NOPC
    Number of Open (or recorded) Placer Claims within a section (Source: Hyndman and Campbell, 1999)

    ValueDefinition
    (blank)zero

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:64

    NOMC
    Number of Open (or recorded) Mill site Claims within a section (Source: Hyndman and Campbell, 1999)

    ValueDefinition
    (blank)zero

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:132

    NOTC
    Number of Open (or recorded) Tunnel site Claims within a section (Source: Hyndman and Campbell, 1999)

    ValueDefinition
    (blank)zero

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:20

    TOC
    Total number of Open (or recorded) Claims of all types within a section (Source: Hyndman and Campbell, 1999)

    ValueDefinition
    (blank)zero

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:194

    NCLC
    Number of Closed (or terminated and closed) Lode Claims within a section (Source: Hyndman and Campbell, 1999)

    ValueDefinition
    (blank)zero

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:908

    NCPC
    Number of Closed (or terminated and closed) Placer Claims within a section (Source: Hyndman and Campbell, 1999)

    ValueDefinition
    (blank)zero

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:115

    NCMC
    Number of Closed (or terminated and closed) Mill site Claims within a section (Source: Hyndman and Campbell, 1999)

    ValueDefinition
    (blank)zero

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:227

    NCTC
    Number of Closed (or terminated and closed) Tunnel site Claims within a section (Source: Hyndman and Campbell, 1999)

    ValueDefinition
    (blank)zero

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:35

    TCC
    Total number of Closed (or terminated and closed) Claims of all types within a section (Source: Hyndman and Campbell, 1999)

    ValueDefinition
    (blank)zero

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:991

    TC
    Total number of all Claims of all types within a section (Source: Hyndman and Campbell, 1999)

    ValueDefinition
    (blank)zero

    Range of values
    Minimum:0
    Maximum:1010

    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
    Actual maximum values for each attribute vary by state according to the following table: 
     Attribute     NOLC NOPC NOMC NOTC  TOC NCLC NCPC NCMC NCTC  TCC   TC
 Arizona         67   38  117    1  129  172  104  144   12  235  254
 California     194   64  132    4  194  241  109  192    3  241  313
 Colorado       161   28   60    2  164  153   74  117    5  188  217
 Idaho          147   36   80    1  182  908  115  155    7  991 1010
 Montana         60   45  127    2  159  165   64  156    4  117  189
 Nebraska         3    0    0    0    3   45    0    0    0   45   45
 Nevada         194   64  132    4  194  241  109  192    3  241  313
 New Mexico      69   26   39   20   93  180   84  114   12  180  180
 Oregon          77   36   32    5  110  148  102   32   35  226  336
 South Dakota    37   19    0    0   40  177   55   64   21  177  210
 Utah            84   25  121    1  121  213   68  227    6  293  293
 Washington      78   25   49    6   89  152   35   15    3  152  165
 Wyoming         48   33  122    0  125  125   97  135    1  174  185
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation: USGS Open-File Report 99-325

  8. What are the components of this data set?

    blm_az.dbf (dBase 3 database)
    This database contains mine claim density information for federal land in the State of Arizona from 1976 through 1996, based on data provided by the BLM in 1997.
    blm_ca.dbf (dBase 3 database)
    This database contains mine claim density information for federal land in the State of California from 1976 through 1996, based on data provided by the BLM in 1997.
    blm_co.dbf (dBase 3 database)
    This database contains mine claim density information for federal land in the State of Colorado from 1976 through 1996, based on data provided by the BLM in 1997.
    blm_id.dbf (dBase 3 database)
    This database contains mine claim density information for federal land in the State of Idaho from 1976 through 1996, based on data provided by the BLM in 1997.
    blm_mt.dbf (dBase 3 database)
    This database contains mine claim density information for federal land in the State of Montana from 1976 through 1996, based on data provided by the BLM in 1997.
    blm_ne.dbf (dBase 3 database)
    This database contains mine claim density information of Nebraska from 1976 through 1996, based on data provided by the BLM in 1997.
    blm_nv.dbf (dBase 3 database)
    This database contains mine claim density information for federal land in the State of Nevada from 1976 through 1996, based on data provided by the BLM in 1997.
    blm_nm.dbf (dBase 3 database)
    This database contains mine claim density information for federal land in the State of New Mexico from 1976 through 1996, based on data provided by the BLM in 1997.
    blm_or.dbf (dBase 3 database)
    This database contains mine claim density information for federal land in the State of Oregon from 1976 through 1996, based on data provided by the BLM in 1997.
    blm_sd.dbf (dBase 3 database)
    This database contains mine claim density information for federal land in the State of South Dakota from 1976 through 1996, based on data provided by the BLM in 1997.
    blm_ut.dbf (dBase 3 database)
    This database contains mine claim density information for federal land in the State of Utah from 1976 through 1996, based on data provided by the BLM in 1997.
    blm_wa.dbf (dBase 3 database)
    This database contains mine claim density information for federal land in the State of Washington from 1976 through 1996, based on data provided by the BLM in 1997.
    blm_wy.dbf (dBase 3 database)
    This database contains mine claim density information for federal land in the State of Wyoming from 1976 through 1996, based on data provided by the BLM in 1997.

Who produced the data set?

  1. Who are the originators of the data set? (may include formal authors, digital compilers, and editors)

  2. Who also contributed to the data set?

    Cheryl Laudenbach, Denver Service Center, BLM, provided the mining claim data from the Mining Claim Recordation Database.

  3. To whom should users address questions about the data?

    Pamela D Derkey
    U.S. Geological Survey, GEO-WRG-MRS
    W 904 Riverside Avenue
    Spokane, WA 99201
    USA

    509-368-3114 (voice)
    509-368-3199 (FAX)
    pderkey@usgs.gov

Why was the data set created?

These databases were developed to provide mining claim information to quantify and qualify mining claim activity on federal lands in the western states. The information can be used in a geographic information system (GIS) and should be useful in researching interrelationships of mining claim activity with physical and social science concerns. The data are intended to be attached to a digital PLS of a state.
The data are not to be considered as legal descriptions of the Public Land Surveys or of mining claims and their boundaries.

How was the data set created?

  1. From what previous works were the data drawn?

    BLM MCRD, 1997 (source 1 of 1)
    Bureau of Land Management, Denver Federal Center, Colorado - Cher, 199703, This data does not have a title.

    Type_of_Source_Media: 9-track tape
    Source_Contribution:
    The BLM, through Cheryl Laudenbach, contributed the mining claim data of the State. The data included

  2. How were the data generated, processed, and modified?

    Date: 1997 (process 1 of 1)
    The detailed process steps are described in the U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report OF 96-736 by Harry W. Campbell. An example of the use of the data is in Open-File Report OF 96-737 by Campbell and Hyndman.
    To summarize the process, the BLM data was brought into dBase, separated into 4 sub-databases, then massaged and summarized with several dBase programs to produce a mining claim density database. A unique field, MTRS, was created to enable the data to be joined to a digital PLS of a State. The State PLS digital file will also have to have the MTRS field created in order to properly connect the data.

  3. What similar or related data should the user be aware of?

How reliable are the data; what problems remain in the data set?

  1. How well have the observations been checked?

    The attributes of the mining claim data from BLM data, claims per section, do not represent the exact number of claims in each section. Some claims overlap into adjoining sections and/or townships. In order to count each claim only once, it was necessary to choose one section for each claim to be identified with. Therefore, the first section listed in the BLM database for a particular claim was chosen as the section the claim was counted in.
    The accuracy was tested by summing each category of claim in the mining claim database and comparing the sum to those from the original BLM database. The sums for each category matched.
    No attempt was made to determine the accuracy of BLM's database.

  2. How accurate are the geographic locations?

    A claim may be within a section or it may straddle two, three, or four sections. In order to count each claim only once, it was necessary to choose one section for each claim to be identified with. Therefore, the first section listed in the BLM database for a particular claim was chosen as the section the claim was counted in. Interested persons should contact BLM for detailed information on mine claim locations and dimensions.

  3. How accurate are the heights or depths?

  4. Where are the gaps in the data? What is missing?

    None of the data from BLM was omitted. The data is considered complete for the purpose of determining mining claim density in this state.

  5. How consistent are the relationships among the observations, including topology?

    The data set is a derived subset of the original BLM data. No modifications to the BLM data were made.

How can someone get a copy of the data set?

Are there legal restrictions on access or use of the data?

Access_Constraints: None
Use_Constraints:
The U.S. Geological Survey makes no warranties related to the accuracy of the data and users are required to determine suitability of use for any particular purpose. These digital databases are not meant to be construed as legal representations of mining claim boundaries. The information in the database does not provide the legal location or status of individual mining claims.
The user must obtain current information on mining claims from the State Office of the Bureau of Land Management for the area of interest since the mine claim density data is not current.
Any hardcopies utilizing this data set shall clearly indicate their source. If the user has modified the data in any way they are obligated to describe the types of modifications they have performed on the hardcopy map. User specifically agrees not to misrepresent this data set, nor to imply that changes they made were approved by the U.S. Geological Survey.

  1. Who distributes the data set? (Distributor 1 of 1)

    U.S. Geological Survey Information Services
    Open-File Reports
    Box 2586
    Denver, CO 80225
    USA

    1-303-202-4200 (voice)
    1-303-202-4693 (FAX)

  2. What's the catalog number I need to order this data set?

    USGS Open-File Report 99-325

  3. What legal disclaimers am I supposed to read?

    The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) provides this data "as is." The USGS makes no guarantee or warranty concerning the accuracy of information contained in the geographic data. The USGS further makes no warranties, either expressed or implied as to any other matter whatsoever, including, without limitation, the condition of the product, or its fitness for any particular purpose. The burden for determining fitness for use lies entirely with the user. Although this data has been processed successfully on computers at the USGS, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by the USGS regarding the use of this data on any other system, nor does the fact of distribution constitute or imply any such warranty.
    In no event shall the USGS have any liability whatsoever for payment of any consequential, incidental, indirect, special, or tort damages of any kind, including, but not limited to, any loss of profits arising out of use of or reliance on the geographic data or arising out of the delivery, installation, operation, or support by the USGS.

  4. How can I download or order the data?

Who wrote the metadata?

Dates:
Last modified: 13-Mar-2003
Metadata author:
Pamela D Derkey
U.S. Geological Survey, GEO-WRG-MRS
W 904 Riverside Avenue
Spokane, WA 99201
USA

509-368-3114 (voice)
509-368-3199 (FAX)
pderkey@usgs.gov

Metadata standard:
Content Standard for Digital Geospatial Metadata (FGDC-STD-001-1998)
Metadata extensions used:

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