BLM Mining Claim PLSS Legal Description Converter
Every BLM mining claim — lode, placer, or mill site — is filed using a PLSS legal description: section, township, range, and principal meridian. Convert that description to GPS coordinates for field access, boundary marking, and permit submissions. One claim or an entire block, in seconds.
How BLM Mining Claims Reference PLSS Descriptions
Under the General Mining Law of 1872, every hardrock mining claim filed on federal land must include a legal description tied to the Public Land Survey System. A BLM lode claim location notice describes the claim boundaries using the surrounding PLSS section corners as reference points — section, township, range, and principal meridian. A typical filing reads: T5N R46E Sec 14 NE¼ — Mount Diablo Meridian.
That legal description is precise on paper — it uniquely identifies a 160-acre quarter section in northeastern Nevada — but it doesn't give you a latitude and longitude for your GPS. Claim holders need coordinates to stake corners in the field. BLM permit coordinators need them to verify that proposed disturbance areas fall within the approved claim block. Environmental consultants need them to prepare site access plans and reclamation maps.
Township America converts BLM mining claim PLSS legal descriptions to GPS coordinates using official BLM cadastral survey data — the same data the BLM uses internally to validate location notices. Enter a single description for a quick field lookup, batch convert an entire claim block from CSV, or integrate via the REST API for programmatic permit workflows.
How Mining Professionals Use Township America
Claim Holder Staking a New Placer Claim
A small mining company is prospecting for gold in a drainage in Elko County, Nevada. Before staking, the field geologist converts the target quarter-section description — T37N R52E Sec 6 W1/2 SW1/4 — Mount Diablo Meridian — to GPS coordinates and loads the corner waypoints onto a handheld GPS unit. The crew stakes the physical boundaries and files the BLM location notice, using the same PLSS description they started with.
Permit Coordinator Preparing a Plan of Operations
A junior mining company has optioned a copper prospect in Yavapai County, Arizona, and needs a Plan of Operations (43 CFR 3809) before drilling. The permit coordinator must include GPS coordinates for each drill site, access road, and staging area, and confirm all features fall within the approved claim block. They batch convert 50+ PLSS descriptions from the claim location notices to GPS, verify alignment, and attach the coordinate table to the BLM submission.
Environmental Consultant Mapping a Reclamation Bond Area
An environmental consultant is preparing an annual reclamation bond update for a gold mine in Elmore County, Idaho. The bond calculation requires total acreage disturbed broken down by PLSS section. The consultant intersects the disturbance polygon with PLSS section boundaries, converts each section description to GPS coordinates for the regulatory map, and submits the breakdown to the Idaho Department of Lands. The PLSS descriptions in the report must match the active mine permit on file.
Built for Mining Claim Work
Claim Location Lookup
Enter a PLSS section description from a BLM location notice and get the GPS coordinates for the claim center and quarter-section corners.
Batch Claim Block Conversion
Upload a CSV with all claims in a block — lode, placer, and mill site. Download GPS coordinates for the entire block in one pass.
API for Permit Systems
Feed claim descriptions from permitting databases into the REST API and get coordinates back programmatically. Integrates with BLM LR2000 workflows.
KML & GeoJSON Export
Export converted claim locations as KML for Google Earth, GeoJSON for GIS, or CSV for reporting and regulatory submissions.
Key Mining States and Principal Meridians
BLM mining claim PLSS legal descriptions reference the principal meridian for the state where the claim is located. Township America covers all active mining meridians — the meridian is detected automatically from the description, so you don't need to configure anything when working across multiple states.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert a BLM mining claim legal description to GPS coordinates?
Enter the PLSS legal description from your BLM location notice — section, township, range, and principal meridian — into Township America and get GPS coordinates back in seconds. The converter uses official BLM cadastral survey data and automatically identifies the correct meridian for each state.
Does Township America support all mining states and principal meridians?
Yes. Township America covers all PLSS mining states including Nevada (Mount Diablo Meridian), Montana (Montana Principal Meridian), Colorado (6th Principal Meridian), Arizona (Gila-Salt River Meridian), and Idaho (Boise Meridian). The meridian is detected automatically from the description — no manual selection required.
Can I batch convert an entire mining claim block?
Yes. Upload a CSV with PLSS descriptions for each claim in a block — lode claims, placer claims, and mill sites — and Township America returns GPS coordinates for all of them in one pass. Output formats include CSV, KML, and GeoJSON.
Can the API integrate with mine permitting or GIS systems?
Yes. The Township America REST API accepts PLSS legal descriptions and returns GPS coordinates and GeoJSON in standard JSON format. It integrates with any permitting system, GIS platform, or mine planning software that supports HTTP requests. Average response times are under 200ms.
Related Resources
Convert Your Mining Claim PLSS Descriptions Now
Single lookup or batch convert an entire claim block — BLM-validated cadastral data for every PLSS mining state.