Star Mining District (Utah). Recorder Mining records, 1870-1897.

Beaver County miners organized the Star Mining District in the Star Range southwest of Milford on 8 July 1870. The Star District included Shauntie, a significant mining settlement which was the hub of Beaver County mining activity during the decade of the 1870s. The Star District was organized two years before Congress passed a general mining law validating the already established precedent that individuals had the right to claim mineral wealth in the public domain (Statutes at Large, Treaties, and Proclamations, of the United States of America, vol. 17, 1872, chap. 152). In local areas groups of miners organized districts to manage mining activity and to elect recorders to keep records of claims. The Star District books primarily contain notices of location or records of claims. Each notice identifies a claim by a unique name, provides a description of its location, and identifies the names of locators. Since early claims were limited to 200 feet along a lode, several locators weregenerally listed on each claim. Notices include dates for discovery and filing and are signed by the district recorder or his deputy. Early location notices also include the recorder's record of work competed on the claim. In addition to notices of location, Star District books include the minutes of miners' meetings and copies of district by-laws.