Springfield wrote
Perhaps your idea of "abundance" is not what was meant - however Arizona certainly ranks as one of the top gold producing states - since the 19th century around 16 million ounces of the yellow metal have come out of Arizona, and that does not count the production while it was possessed by Mexico or Spain. I would call that gold in abundance, certainly far better for a prospector than many other states.
Wrmickel1 is correct in that while we can not file a mining claim in a wilderness area as per the 1872 Mining Act, there are ways to get it done. Land exchanges are one method, and they do not factor the value of the minerals involved (as is currently being done in the Santa Ritas in AZ for a major copper project) but special permits/permission are another route, it is just a more complex deal. You have to be able to show the authorities (starting with the Forest Service) that you really have found the rich vein of gold, and be willing to hike in and show it to them too. They are not going to listen if you say you solved a treasure map (stone, paper or otherwise) or have the clues etc. You have to show them the gold - photograph and document it very well, then proceed and be patient.
For the record, many people seem to think you can not prospect in Wilderness Areas. Read the relevant passage from the Wilderness Act:
(2) Nothing in this Act shall prevent within national forest wilderness areas any activity, including prospecting, for the purpose of gathering information about mineral or other resources, if such activity is carried on in a manner compatible with the preservation of the wilderness environment. Furthermore, in accordance with such program as the Secretary of the Interior shall develop and conduct in consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, such areas shall be surveyed on a planned, recurring basis consistent with the concept of wilderness preservation by the Geological Survey and the Bureau of Mines to determine the mineral values, if any, that may be present; and the results of such surveys shall be made available to the public and submitted to the President and Congress.
Note that it is paramount to not be tearing the country up, as for a giant open pit operation. But for the LDM, we are talking about a mine that would be something you could very well mine, and not cause much, if any, disturbance to the wilderness, which is a point you must make in your application for permissions.
Good luck and good hunting amigos, I hope you find the treasures that you seek.
Oroblanco
