Gold Mountain Mining District (Utah). Recorder Mining records, 1889-1897.

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 proofof 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.