Metal Detecting Guides & Reviews

Hobby metal detecting and gold prospecting with hand tools are generally allowed on BLM land. Here is what the rules say about claims, artifacts, closed areas and what you can keep.

Staking a mining claim on BLM land follows a clear sequence: confirm the land is open, make a discovery, mark the claim under state law, file with the county and BLM, then keep up annual fees. Here is the overview.

Nevada leads the nation in gold production and the BLM manages most of the state, but most of that gold is microscopic. Here is where hobby prospectors actually find detectable nuggets and the legal basics to know first.