<p>Obviously, an experienced rockhound would not be asking such a question; so my first points will be about safety.</p>
<ul>
<li>You definitely should not be in remote areas or around mines alone.</li>
<li>You really want the buddy system when rock collecting.</li>
<li>You also need proper safety gear.</li>
<li>
<ul>
<li>If you are breaking rocks: then full sleeves, long pants and safety glasses (or goggles) are needed.</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li>
<ul>
<li>You require soft iron hammers, not a hard steel hammer like you would use for nails.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
<p>You should find a <a href="http://www.cfmsinc.org/clubs/clubnv.htm#n005" rel="nofollow noreferrer">local rock and mineral club</a> in your area; in that area, such a group would organize field trips. Often, clubs will allow members of other clubs to join the trip. The clubs would know where to collect specimens, and be able to show you such specimens, which would show you what you are looking for. Such trips would be organized in such a way that you could find out what sort of equipment that you require.</p>
<p>Active mines will almost certainly turn you away. The mines that I've collected and that have had field trips do a massive clean-up before having a public collecting day, and only do so to try to create good will in the community. The insurance and liability problems are a nightmare for a mine.</p>
<p>The USGS has posted various lists of mines with GPS coordinates. You can also get mineralogy maps and topological maps from them.</p>
<ul>
<li><a href="http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/mapdata/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Mine and Mineral Processing Plant Locations</a></li>
<li><a href="http://mrdata.usgs.gov/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">USGS Mineral Resources On-line Spatial Data</a></li>
</ul>
<p>Offroading has a <a href="http://offroadinghome.blogspot.com/2010/05/nevada-mine-map.html" rel="nofollow noreferrer">webpage</a> which has a spreadsheet with Nevada mine locations. (Click on title of article to download.)</p>
<p><a href="http://offroadinghome.com/nevada/nevada.htm" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Nevada Off Road ATV and SUV trail maps - Offroading Home</a>
Overlays for Google Earth; the last two entries might be interesting.</p>
<p><a href="https://mrdata.usgs.gov/geology/state/state.php?state=NV" rel="nofollow noreferrer">USGS webpage</a> with data for Nevada.</p>
<p>List of <a href="http://www.rockngem.com/ShowDatesFiles/ShowDatesDisplayAll.php?ShowState=NV" rel="nofollow noreferrer">rock and mineral shows</a> in Nevada</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>The <a href="http://www.renorockhounds.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Reno Rock and Mineral Club</a> is having its annual rock and mineral show this weekend. (May 7th and 8th,  2016.)</strong></li>
</ul>
<p>There are also books about rock collecting sites. For instance:</p>
<ul>
<li>Rockhounding Nevada: A Guide to the State's Best Rockhounding Sites
By William A. Kappele <a href="https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/B005K8REOW" rel="nofollow noreferrer" rel="nofollow noreferrer">@Amazon</a></li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-02T23:26:51.207Z
This doesn't seem to be an attempt to answer the question the OP asked. The final paragraph is almost useful; it needs a link or two, something for the OP to go on.
Matt Hall
CC BY-SA 4.0
2016-05-02T21:18:33.263Z
2022-07-18T19:50:10.940Z
2022-07-18T19:50:10.940Z
MaxW
<p>You may want to check this out ESRI open data <a href="http://opendata.arcgis.com/" rel="nofollow">http://opendata.arcgis.com/</a> if this is what you were looking for.</p>

<p>One another thing is that you might want to contact BLM's Nevada State Office.</p>

<p><a href="http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/prog/minerals/mining.html" rel="nofollow">http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/prog/minerals/mining.html</a></p>

<p>They may have the data if they are on the Public lands. I am not sure about the private lands for that.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-03T00:53:39.493Z
Ok seems like I must have hit twice to post two.
PROBERT
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-03T18:12:39.907Z
Fantastic.  I this is a good starting point.  Growing up in rural Nevada, my friend and I know a lot about safety and equipment, however none of us know much about rocks and mining law other than what you pick up while traveling.  Thanks.
msmith81886
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-03T00:23:33.233Z
2016-05-03T00:23:33.233Z
PROBERT
<p>I live in the Reno/Sparks area and have started rockhounding.  One aspect I am quickly realizing is that many sites are actively being mined.  In order to avoid running afoul of local laws, I would like to get a map of active mining claims and potentially a map of expired claims.  Expired claims would be helpful for finding interesting sites.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-04T05:11:54.970Z
What are you looking for? Collector minerals? The next big ore deposit? Some gold nuggets?
Gimelist
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-05-04T19:43:45.650Z
Mostly just interesting rocks.  So far I have some really interesting samples of Agate, Gypsum ore, copper ore, and Wonderstone.  I am not trying to get rich (unless it happens which I won't complain).  It feels great to get away from a computer by wandering around in the desert picking up rocks.
msmith81886
<geology><mining>
Where can I find a list of active mining claims in my area (Northern Nevada)?
msmith81886
# Where can I find a list of active mining claims in my area (Northern Nevada)?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-05-02)

I live in the Reno/Sparks area and have started rockhounding. One aspect I am quickly realizing is that many sites are actively being mined. In order to avoid running afoul of local laws, I would like to get a map of active mining claims and potentially a map of expired claims. Expired claims would be helpful for finding interesting sites.

**Tags:** geology, mining

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: What are you looking for? Collector minerals? The next big ore deposit? Some gold nuggets?  
> **username_0**: Mostly just interesting rocks.  So far I have some really interesting samples of Agate, Gypsum ore, copper ore, and Wonderstone.  I am not trying to get rich (unless it happens which I won't complain).  It feels great to get away from a computer by wandering around in the desert picking up rocks.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_4 on 2016-05-03. Score: 4 | Accepted answer

You may want to check this out ESRI open data <http://opendata.arcgis.com/> if this is what you were looking for.

One another thing is that you might want to contact BLM's Nevada State Office.

<http://www.blm.gov/nv/st/en/prog/minerals/mining.html>

They may have the data if they are on the Public lands. I am not sure about the private lands for that.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Ok seems like I must have hit twice to post two.  
> **username_0**: Fantastic.  I this is a good starting point.  Growing up in rural Nevada, my friend and I know a lot about safety and equipment, however none of us know much about rocks and mining law other than what you pick up while traveling.  Thanks.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2016-05-02. Score: -1

Obviously, an experienced rockhound would not be asking such a question; so my first points will be about safety.

* You definitely should not be in remote areas or around mines alone.
* You really want the buddy system when rock collecting.
* You also need proper safety gear.
* + If you are breaking rocks: then full sleeves, long pants and safety glasses (or goggles) are needed.
* + You require soft iron hammers, not a hard steel hammer like you would use for nails.

You should find a [local rock and mineral club](http://www.cfmsinc.org/clubs/clubnv.htm#n005) in your area; in that area, such a group would organize field trips. Often, clubs will allow members of other clubs to join the trip. The clubs would know where to collect specimens, and be able to show you such specimens, which would show you what you are looking for. Such trips would be organized in such a way that you could find out what sort of equipment that you require.

Active mines will almost certainly turn you away. The mines that I've collected and that have had field trips do a massive clean-up before having a public collecting day, and only do so to try to create good will in the community. The insurance and liability problems are a nightmare for a mine.

The USGS has posted various lists of mines with GPS coordinates. You can also get mineralogy maps and topological maps from them.

* [Mine and Mineral Processing Plant Locations](http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/mapdata/)
* [USGS Mineral Resources On-line Spatial Data](http://mrdata.usgs.gov/)

Offroading has a [webpage](http://offroadinghome.blogspot.com/2010/05/nevada-mine-map.html) which has a spreadsheet with Nevada mine locations. (Click on title of article to download.)

[Nevada Off Road ATV and SUV trail maps - Offroading Home](http://offroadinghome.com/nevada/nevada.htm)
Overlays for Google Earth; the last two entries might be interesting.

[USGS webpage](https://mrdata.usgs.gov/geology/state/state.php?state=NV) with data for Nevada.

List of [rock and mineral shows](http://www.rockngem.com/ShowDatesFiles/ShowDatesDisplayAll.php?ShowState=NV) in Nevada

* **The [Reno Rock and Mineral Club](http://www.renorockhounds.com/) is having its annual rock and mineral show this weekend. (May 7th and 8th, 2016.)**

There are also books about rock collecting sites. For instance:

* Rockhounding Nevada: A Guide to the State's Best Rockhounding Sites
  By William A. Kappele [@Amazon](https://rads.stackoverflow.com/amzn/click/com/B005K8REOW)

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: This doesn't seem to be an attempt to answer the question the OP asked. The final paragraph is almost useful; it needs a link or two, something for the OP to go on.  

---

