public and private land for gem and precious metal prospecting?

Answer 1

There are many public lands open for collecting.

Click on the link below to go to the American Federation of Mineral Society's website. There you will find information and resources regarding statutes and regulations governing collecting on public lands.

You'll also find a code of conduct and ethics that rockhounds around the country adhere to. Just as there is a proper way to camp in the wilderness, there is a proper way to rockhound. And, just as there is an improper and destructive way to camp in the wilderness, there is an improper and destructive way to rockhound.

In general, you will find a group of people devoted to the proper care and use of public lands for all when you talk to a group of rockhounds.

If you are interested in rockhounding, I recommend you contact your local lapidary/rock, gem, and mineral society--you'll find a wonderfully nice and very knowledgeable group of people.

Answer 2

Private land is not an issue, you can do what you want within zoning guidlines... defined areas of public land were, at one time, up for grabs to individuals at no charge for both mining and homesteading. Not any more. Now the policy is "keep those peasants working".

People living in self sufficiency in wilderness areas , once an admirable endeavor, are now not allowed by the powers that be (and environmental extremists). They created no tax base and the practice was becoming very popular (remember the OLD Mother Earth News, hawking total self sufficiency?)..

The current policy is "keep em in the ghetto". So no free land for individuals anymore.

Answer 3

If people want to do that on their own private land, good luck to them. But destroying public property (including barren land) is a crime. So I'd hope nobody is attempting to do that. Some probably are anyway. And I doubt they'd even find anything.