Series 23923
Gold Mountain Mining District (Utah). Recorder Mining records
Dates: 1889-1897.
2 microfilm reels
These records are housed in the Utah State Archives' permanent storage room.
Historical Note
An agency history is available.
Scope and Content
According to federal law, mineral deposits in the public domain were free and open to exploration, and locators of the same had exclusive right of possession. Local mining districts managed mining operations and recorded claims. (Statutes at Large, Treaties, and Proclamations, of the United States of America, 1872, vol. XVII, chap. 152). Records kept by the Gold Mountain Mining District recorder include claims or notices of location, affidavits showing proof of annual assessment labor and a few other mining records, such as deeds, notices of water rights, and statements about district business. Location notices affirm the citizenship of locators and confirm compliance with federal and local laws. They describe the claims, both in terms of dimensions and location, and identify each claim with a unique name. Notices provide dates of discovery and filing and are signed by both locators and the district recorder. Gold Mountain Mining District records also contain affidavits claiming proof of labor. In order to maintain claims, federal law required at least $100 worth of labor or improvements annually. Claimants appeared before the district recorder and provided a statement that the annual assessment work had been completed.
Arrangement
Chronological by date.
Related Records
Mining district by-laws from United States. General Land Office, Series 3651, include a copy of Gold Mountain Mining District by-laws as filed with the General Land Office.
Access Restrictions
This series is classified as Public: UCA 17-21-19 and 63G-2-301(1)(g) (2008).
Preferred Citation
Cite the Utah State Archives and Records Service, the creating agency name, the series title, and the series number.
Processing Note
Gold Mountain Mining District records were microfilmed at Southern Utah University under the direction of Utah State Archives in December 2001 and processed by Rosemary Cundiff in March 2002.
Finding Aids
Indexes: The district recorder created an index to all Gold Mountain Mining District records. The index provides reference by name of claim or mine, and provides the book and page number where each document was recorded. Index entries are alphabetically grouped and chronological thereunder.
Indexing Terms
- Mining districts—Piute County (Utah).
- Mines and mineral resources—Ownership—Piute County (Utah).
- Mining claims—Piute County (Utah).
- Mining districts—Sevier County (Utah).
- Mines and mineral resources—Ownership—Sevier County (Utah).
- Mining claims—Sevier County (Utah).
Page Last Updated October 18, 2012.