Here's our latest list of placer mining claims for sale. Take a look at our Articles & Information section to find out more information about placer claims. These are the most common type of mining claim and contain "free" nuggets and flakes in the soil (as opposed to a "lode" claim which contains a precious metal vein or precious metals still embedded in rock). Placer claims are the easiest way to find and retrieve gold and other precious metals.

Make sure to check back often as our list of placer mining claims is constantly updated and changes frequently.

There's an old saying: “Gold is where you find it.” While that may seem cliché and a bit dumb, it is true. It's also true that most gold is where it's been found before. That is to say, if gold has been found in a specific spot before, chances are there is more gold in that same spot.

There are many reasons to buy a mining claim but perhaps the best reason is that it can significantly increase your chances of finding gold. Sure, in theory gold can be found anywhere, but specific geological conditions, rock formations, and the presence of gold already found significantly increase an area's chances of giving up more gold.

This is where mining claims come in. In order to file a mining claim, there has to be evidence that precious metals are found at the claim. Some states only require significant evidence of precious metals while other states require that you actually find gold on the claim before any paperwork can be filed.
You will also notice that many of the claims on this site have already produced some gold. This is a great sign that more gold is sitting in the ground, waiting to be found.

Of course, another reason to buy a mining claim is the pure convenience factor. If you're new to prospecting or aren't sure where to go, an already established gold or silver claim can greatly increase your chances of finding gold sooner. It takes time, knowledge, effort, and research to locate a good mining claim. Not to mention financial resources as well. Buying an already established metal claim takes a lot of the guess work (and hard work) out of the equation and gets you on the road to finding precious metals faster.

Good Prospecting!

Oregon is one of the overlooked areas when it comes to mining claims. But yes, there is gold and other precious metals in Oregon. With a temperate climate, plenty of streams and rivers, and plenty of gold left to be found, this overlooked area could be the perfect place for your new mining claim.

Notice there aren't many mining claims in Oregon for sale. This is because the area is overlooked by most and they don't come up for sale very often. Be sure to check back regularly as our list of claims for sale is constantly updated and changes on a frequent basis.

It seems like every industry has their own specific terms for everything and in most cases, mining claims are no different.  In general, a mining claim is either known as “Patented” or “Unpatented”, with the vast majority of claims today being Unpatented.  But what does this mean?  Read on to find out.

This one is actually pretty easy once the terms are defined.  A patented mining claim means you own the underlying property along with mineral rights to that property.  And an unpatented mining claim means you don't own the property, just the mineral rights to prospect on that property.

It is entirely possible to purchase a parcel of land only to find out someone else owns the mineral rights (aka, a mining claim) to your land.  Be sure to do your research the next time you buy property!

With a patented mining claim, the land is yours and you can do what you want with it (within local regulations and ordinances).  This usually means you could build a house on the land, live there, raise animals, prospect, whatever.  Oh, you also “get” to pay property taxes every year.

With an unpatented mining claim, things are a little bit different.  Since you don't own the land, you can't build a house or live there.  But you also don't have to pay the property taxes.  In most states, you can camp on the land for a pre-determined length of time (usually two weeks) so long as you are prospecting.  I've known prospectors who go all summer on their unpatented mining claims.  They simply choose a new spot to camp every few weeks or have several claims in one area and rotate working on each of them.  Some states are more lenient than others so it helps to check with the local BLM office before making any plans for an extended stay on an unpatented mining claim.

While the main difference between an patented and unpatented mining claim is who owns the land, there is one thing in common for all mining claims: YOU own the mineral rights.  This means you are the only person who can prospect (or grant the right to others to prospect) for precious metals on that property.  It is illegal for others to remove precious metals from your mining claim without permission... even if the person doing it owns the property.

I hope this clears up the differences between patented and unpatented mining claims.  Stay tuned for more gold prospecting articles and be sure to check out our wide selection of claims for sale.

Good Prospecting!

Escape to the great southwest with your own mining claim in Arizona. Arizona is known for its vast amount of gold and early day gold mines, many of which still contain gold today. As a large producer of gold, both placer and lode claims can be found throughout Arizona. While it is also known for its copper production, a mild winter climate and vast number of gold mines makes Arizona a prime location for finding both gold nuggets and gold ore.

The majority of mining claims in Arizona are in a dry, desert climate with little or only seasonal water access. It's because of this that dry-weather gold mining techniques (including dry washing and metal detecting) reign supreme, but there are still many claims where you can pan for gold, use a sluice, or even a dredge. Whatever your method of finding gold, there is plenty of it left in the mining claims of Arizona. You can find everything from gold flakes, to "picker" nuggets, and there are many who have found multi-ounce nuggets or highly graded gold ore.


Because of the mild winter climate, many gold bugs prefer a mining claim in Arizona for some winter prospecting. As an added bonus, there are many other precious minerals found in Arizona including copper, silver, and even meteorites (which can be more valuable than gold)! So take a look through our Arizona mining claims for sale and see if a claim in this unique southwestern climate is for you.