Series 24001
San Juan County (Utah). County Recorder Mining location notices (lode claims)
Dates: 1900-1951.
4 microfilm reels
These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.
Historical Note
An agency history is available.
Scope and Content
The San Juan County recorder kept a separate set of books in which to record location notices for lode claims. Federal mining law outlined that the first step toward ownership of mineral deposits in the public domain was the discovery of a potentially productive site and recording a claim or notice of location. (see Statutes at Large, Treaties, and Proclamations, of the United States of America, vol. XVII, chap. 152, also Revised Statutes of the United States, chap. 6, title 32). Lode location notices are defined in terms of identified sections of veins or lodes of quartz or other rock bearing gold, silver or other precious metals. By federal law, lode claims could not exceed 1500 feet along the lode. Each claim in these books serves as notification that the undersigned locator has complied with United States and local laws and is entitled to a certain specifically named claim. Each notice identifies the names of locators, names and describes the claim, and provides dates of locationand filing. Most of the notices in these books do not identify a mining district, nor do they indicate the locator's objective. However, occasionally stated objectives were copper and uranium. A proliferation of notices recorded 1948-1951 can be attributed to uranium development which became important in San Juan County after World War II.
Research Note
In addition to notices of location for lode claims, these books are sprinkled with placer notices, deeds, and affidavits showing proof of labor. Several mining or uranium leases were also recorded in books R 2-R 4. A large section of preprinted location notices was inserted near the end of Book R 4. These copies are too faded to be legible.
Research Note
In addition to notices of location for lode claims, these books are sprinkled with placer notices, deeds, and affidavits showing proof of labor. Several mining or uranium leases were also recorded in books R 2-R 4. A large section of preprinted location notices was inserted near the end of Book R 4. These copies are too faded to be legible.
Access Restrictions
This series is designated as Public.
Reproduction and Use
These records are available for reproduction and use.
Finding Aids
Indexes: San Juan County Mining records index (locations), series 23583, provides reference by name of claim to the records in this series.
Related Records
Official records from San Juan County (Utah). County Recorder, Series 6682, contain notices of location for lode claims recorded after 1951.
Miscellaneous records from San Juan County (Utah). County Recorder, Series 23400, contain additional mining location notices for lode claims.
Mining records index (locations) from San Juan County (Utah). County Recorder, Series 23583, provides reference to the records in these books.
Mining maps from San Juan County (Utah). County Recorder, Series 23905, depict groups of claims owned by uranium developers.
Mining records from Blue Mountain Mining District (Utah). Recorder, Series 24035, contain many location notices for lode claims recorded prior to 1897.
Mining records from San Juan County (Utah). County Recorder, Series 84250, contain additional mining location notices for lode claims.
Indexing Terms
Uranium mines and mining--San Juan County (Utah).
Mines and mineral resources--Ownership--San Juan County (Utah).
Mining claims--San Juan County (Utah).
| DISC | REEL | DESCRIPTION |
| pending | 1 | 1900 Apr - 1916 Aug: Mining Claims Book D |
| pending | 2 | 1916 Mar - 1932 Dec: Lodes Book R |
| 3 | 3 | 1933 Apr - 1948 Sep: Lodes Book R 1 |
| 3 | 3 | 1948 Sep - 1951 Mar: Lodes Book R 2 |
| 4 | 4 | 1951 Mar - 1951 Jul: Lodes Book R 3 |
| 4 | 4 | 1951 Jul - 1951 Dec: Lodes Book R 4 |