BLM mining claim PLSS legal description converter
Every BLM mining claim (lode, placer, or mill site) is recorded with 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 located on federal land is recorded with a legal description tied to the Public Land Survey System. A BLM lode claim location notice ties the claim boundaries to the surrounding PLSS survey and lists the section, township, range, and principal meridian it sits in. A typical filing reads: T5N R46E Sec 14 SW¼NE¼, Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada.
That legal description is precise on paper (it identifies a 40-acre quarter-quarter section in Nye County, central 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 recorded 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. Enter a single description for a quick field lookup, batch convert an entire claim block from CSV on Business, or integrate through the REST API (a separate subscription) 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-quarter section (T37N R52E Sec 8 NE¼SW¼, Mount Diablo Meridian, Nevada) to GPS coordinates and loads the corner waypoints onto a handheld GPS unit. The crew stakes a 20-acre placer claim on the S½ of that quarter-quarter, the most a single locator can hold in one placer claim, and files the location notice with 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 has to file a Notice or Plan of Operations under 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 recorded claim block. On Business, they batch convert 50+ PLSS descriptions (Gila and Salt River Meridian) 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 (Boise Meridian). 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 description from a BLM location notice and get GPS coordinates and the boundary of the section, quarter section, or quarter-quarter the claim sits in.
Batch claim block conversion
BusinessUpload a CSV with every claim in a block: lode, placer, and mill site. Get GPS coordinates for the whole block in one pass. Business includes 2,500 records/month per organization.
API for permit systems
Feed claim descriptions from permitting databases into the REST API and get coordinates back programmatically. Works alongside BLM MLRS claim records. The API is a separate subscription from the web plans.
KML and GeoJSON export
BusinessExport converted claim locations as KML for Google Earth, GeoJSON for GIS, or Shapefile for ArcGIS. All exports, CSV included, are on Business; Pro includes PDF.
Key mining states and principal meridians
BLM mining claim PLSS legal descriptions reference the principal meridian for the area where the claim is located. Township America covers every PLSS state and all 37 principal meridians. The meridian is detected from the description, so you don't need to configure anything when working across multiple states.
Texas TXSS abstracts, also covered
Texas RRC counties, abstracts, and surveys matter for mining workflows just as much as PLSS sections. Township America converts both PLSS section descriptions and Texas Abstract / Block & Section / Survey-name descriptions. One resolver, one API, both systems.
A-123 Reeves County, TXBlock 5, Sec 14, T&P Survey, ReevesJohn Smith Survey, Bexar CountyWorkflows by role
Detailed Township America setup guides for the roles in this vertical.
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 identifies the correct meridian for each state.
Does Township America support all mining states and principal meridians?
Yes. Township America covers all 30 PLSS states and 37 principal meridians, including Nevada (Mount Diablo Meridian), Montana (Principal Meridian, Montana), Colorado (6th Principal Meridian, with the New Mexico Principal Meridian in the San Juans), Arizona (Gila and Salt River Meridian), and Idaho (Boise Meridian). The meridian is detected from the description, so there is no manual selection.
Can I batch convert an entire mining claim block?
Yes, on Business. Upload a CSV with the PLSS description 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. Business includes 2,500 records/month per organization. Export the results as CSV, KML, GeoJSON, or Shapefile.
Can the API integrate with mine permitting or GIS systems?
Yes. The Township America REST API, a separate subscription from the web plans, accepts PLSS legal descriptions and returns GeoJSON with the boundary polygon and centroid of each match. It works with any permitting system, GIS platform, or mine planning software that can make HTTP requests.
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Convert your mining claim PLSS descriptions now
Look up a single claim or batch convert an entire claim block, with official BLM cadastral data for every PLSS mining state.