laws and regulations for dredging on my mining claim in colorado

There are mining laws that have protected this practice since the days of the Gold Rush, and those same laws are still in place today. So as a general rule, it is perfectly legal for the casual prospector to venture out onto public lands and dig for gold. “Using a metal detector to locate gold or other mineral deposits is an allowed activity under the General Mining Laws…” This low impact, casual activity usually does not require any authorization.” Generally, most of the National Forests are open to recreational mineral and rock collecting, gold panning and prospecting using a metal detector. “It is Forest Service policy that the recreational use of metal detectors and the collection of rocks and mineral samples are allowed on the National Forests. Many of the most mineral rich states like Nevada, Idaho, and Arizona have lots of open ground that you can prospect on. The vast majority of public lands in the West are managed by the BLM and USFS.

General Rules about Prospecting on Public Lands

Even though most lands are open, some of the best areas are actually off limits due to a variety of reasons. However, there are several exceptions which we are going to cover below. This includes panning, sluicing, digging with basic hand tools and metal detecting. This means that you can go out and collect gold, gems and minerals. The vast majority of federal lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Forest Service (USFS) are open to mineral exploration.

Laws and regulations for dredging on my mining claim in colorado