Public Resources Code section 3900

Any person, who is a citizen of the United States or who has declared his or her intention to become a citizen, and who discovers a vein or lode of quartz, or other rock in place, bearing gold, silver, cinnabar, lead, tin, copper, or any other valuable deposit, may locate a claim upon the vein or lode, by defining the boundaries of the claim, in the manner specified in this chapter, by erecting at the point of discovery a monument as defined in Section 3915, and by posting in or on the monument a notice of the location. The notice shall contain all of the following:

(a)

The name of the lode or claim.

(b)

The name, current mailing address or current residence address, of the locator.

(c)

The number of linear feet claimed in length along the course of the vein, each way from the point of discovery, with the width on each side of the center of the claim, and the general course of the vein or lode, as near as may be.

(d)

The date of location, which shall be the date of posting the notice.

(e)

A description of the type of monuments used for the discovery and corner monuments.

(f)

A description of the claim by reference to some natural object, or permanent monument, as will identify the claim located.

Source: Section 3900, https://leginfo.­legislature.­ca.­gov/faces/codes_displaySection.­xhtml?lawCode=PRC§ionNum=3900.­ (accessed Apr. 24, 2025).

Last Updated

Apr. 24, 2025

§ 3900’s source at ca​.gov