CHAPTER 4 THE MINERAL SURVEY-THE CADASTRAL SURVEYOR

• Jurisdiction: United States

Mineral Patenting Procedures
(Feb 1975)
CHAPTER 4
THE MINERAL SURVEY—THE CADASTRAL SURVEYOR
Orin B. Collier Staff Assistant
Washington Office of the Division of Cadastral Survey Bureau of Land Management
Washington, D.C.

The Division of Cadastral Survey, in the Bureau of Land Management, is the direct descendant of the land survey unit established by Thomas Hutchins to carry out the mandate and the policies of the ordinance of May 20, 1785. As such, it has the responsibility to see that public land is surveyed before a patent can be issued.

The general rectangular land survey scheme established 190 years ago is the basic land survey scheme used in the public land States in the United States. The rectangular network is to be used whereever possible and deviated from only when necessary.

It was recognized early that mineral exploitation and development would add to the economy of a growing nation.

Valuable mineral deposits seldom are so accommodating as to lay with the veins running toward the four principal points of the compass. As a result, mineral claims were staked in every conceivable size and configuration. The general mining law of 1872 tried to bring a semblance of order out of the chaos that existed up to that time. The general mining law provided for a maximum length along the lode line, maximum width of the claim and that the end lines must be parallel with each other.

The BLM State Director has been delegated the duty of approving or rejecting a mineral survey. His cadastral survey Chief is his technical expert in this area. As such, the cadastral survey Chief is responsible for the following actions:

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1. Maintain the roster of authorized mineral surveyors.

2. Receive the application for survey.

3. Examine the application for survey request for completeness.

4. Examine land status records for valid location.

5. Issue the survey order.

6. Examine for technical sufficiency the survey returns submitted by the mineral surveyor.

7. Have the mineral survey final plat drafted.

8. Recommend approval or rejection of the survey returns to the State Director.

9. Notify the BLM Washington Office of mineral survey approvals.

The application for a mineral survey is made on BLM Form No. 3860-5. This form is filed with the BLM State Office having jurisdiction of the area where the claim is located. Certain formalities must be followed in filing this application. Probably the most important formality in filing the...