New Mexico § 69-3-1 - Mining claim location and posting notice
Full text of New Mexico New Mexico Statutes Annotated § 69-3-1 — Mining claim location and posting notice, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 69-3-1. Mining claim location and posting notice
A. Any person or persons desiring to locate a mining claim upon a vein or lode of
quartz or other rock in place bearing gold, silver, cinnabar, lead, tin, copper or
other valuable deposit must distinctly mark the location on the ground by four substantial
posts or monuments, one at each corner of the claim, so that its boundaries may be
readily traced, and post in some conspicuous place on such location, a notice in writing
stating thereon the name or names of the locator or locators and his or their intention
to locate the mining claim, giving a description thereof by reference to some natural
object or permanent monument as will identify the claim. B. The locator shall, at the time of making location of any placer mining claim, cause
a notice of the location to be placed at a designated corner of the claim so located,
stating the name of the claim, the purpose and the kind of material for which the
claim is located, the name of the person locating same, and, if located upon surveyed
lands, the notice shall contain a description of the claim by its legal subdivision. If upon unsurveyed lands, the notice shall contain a description of the claim by
metes and bounds, with reference to some known object or monument. And whether upon surveyed or unsurveyed lands, each corner of the claim shall be
marked by a post at least four feet high, securely set in the ground, or by a substantial
stone monument. C. The date of posting of written notice on the location pursuant to Subsection A
or B of this section is deemed to be the date of location. Within ninety days after the date of location, the locator of a lode or placer claim
shall file for record in the office of the clerk of the county in which the claim
is located, a written notice of location for the claim containing: (1) the name of the claim; (2) the name and current mailing address of the owner of the claim; (3) an identification of the claim as either lode or placer; (4) the date of location; (5) a description reciting, to the extent possible, the section in which the claim
is located and the approximate location of all or any part of the claim by quarter
section. In addition, there shall be furnished the section, township and range; and (6) either a topographic map published by the U.S. geological survey or copy of such
map on which there shall be depicted the location of the claim, or a narrative or
sketch describing the claim with reference by appropriate tie to some topographic,
hydrographic or man-made feature. Such map, narrative description or sketch shall set forth the boundaries and positions
of the individual claim with such accuracy as will allow the claim to be identified
and located on the ground and shall be no larger than eight and one-half inches by
fourteen inches. More than one claim may be shown on a single map or described in a single narrative
or sketch if they are located in the same general area, so long as the individual
claims are clearly identified. D. Nothing in the requirement for a map or description found in this section shall
require the locator or locators of a claim to employ a professional surveyor or engineer.
Source: official New Mexico text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About New Mexico § 69-3-1
What does New Mexico Statutes Annotated § 69-3-1 cover?
Section 69-3-1 ("Mining claim location and posting notice") is part of the New Mexico Statutes Annotated, the codified statutory law of New Mexico. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite New Mexico § 69-3-1?
A common citation format is "New Mexico Statutes Annotated § 69-3-1" (New Mexico). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of New Mexico law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the New Mexico official source linked on this page or consult a licensed New Mexico attorney.
How does New Mexico § 69-3-1 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in New Mexico can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in New Mexico.