How to read BLM mining-claim status

What the claim record is

Unpatented mining claims on federal land are recorded with the BLM in its official mining-claim record. That federal case record tracks each claim's serial number, type, location, claimant, and status. For a prospector, it answers one essential question: is this ground already claimed?

Common status terms

Exact labels vary, but the categories you will encounter map to a few plain ideas:

• Active — a claim currently in good standing. The claimant holds mineral rights there; you generally cannot locate over it.
• Closed / void / expired / relinquished — a claim that is no longer in effect. The ground may be open, but "closed" alone does not prove it is open now, or that it is good ground.
• Pending — a filing that is being processed or has an unresolved requirement. Treat it as potentially active until the record resolves.

Status labels are a starting point, not a verdict. Records can lag real-world events, maintenance fees and filings change standing, and a claim's validity can depend on facts the label does not show. Always confirm current status directly in the official system before relying on it.

Why a nearby claim matters even when it's closed

A dense cluster of claims — active or historical — usually means people found the ground worth claiming. That is useful context. But a closed claim next door is not permission: the closure might be administrative, the good part of the ground might already be re-staked, and surrounding active claims can box in the little that is open. Read the neighborhood, not just the single parcel.

How the map uses claim status

The screening map loads current, other not-closed, and closed claims as distinct layers. Active and other not-closed claims are treated as potential conflicts and can turn a candidate red or black; closed claims are shown as historical context, not as blockers by themselves. This is deliberately conservative — the map would rather warn you off good ground than send you onto occupied ground. The authoritative check is still yours to make in the BLM's official record.

Next: fit this into the full research workflow, and see what the plot colors mean.