Placer Mining in BC

Information and Resources

Getting Information about MTO Map Items

Using BC Mineral Titles Online

• click on Layers in the blue bar along the top to display the map layers to the right

• Choose a layer for getting information: next to a layer, click on the grey circle with the white "i", making it a black circle with an "i". (Actually, "i" stands for "identify".) For placer areas, select the Reserves layer; for claims and leases, select the Tenure (current) layer. (See the top image to the right.)

• In the row of choices for what the cursor does (under the blue bar at the top: zoom, drag, measure, etc.) make sure the black circle with the white "i" is selected. (See the lower image to the right.)

• Click on an item (of the selected layer) on the map and, if possible, you will be shown information on that item.

Note that for Tenure (claims and leases), information will be shown in a pop-up window. If pop-ups are disabled in your web-browser, you will not be able to see the information.

Note: You can always get help on the MTO system from the MTO Help Guide.

Reserves and Placer Areas

Each Reserve listed by the MTO system will have a MTA_SITE_ORDER_RESTR_CODE. These codes are:

T = Designated Claim Area
L = Designated Lease Area
R = Release Required
C = Conditional Reserve
S = Surface Restriction
A = Administrative
H = Heritage Site
N = No Registration Reserve

The first two mean placer claims can be acquired as long as there are no other Reserves that interfere with this (ex. an "N" Reserve). "L" means that, in general, placer claims may be converted into placer leases.

The last, "N", means that no placer claims can be acquired.

The other codes mean that there are restrictions or prohibitions on acquiring claims. You may get more information by looking up the Site Number using the third button ("Site Search") on the MTO home page. If you are still uncertain about the situation, you can call the appropriate Regional Mining Office.

Survey Parcels

Getting information with the circle with the "i", as described above is worth a try. Sometimes Survey Parcels are mineral (ie. hard-rock mining) leases; depending on your plans, this may or may not be important. If you learn that a Survey Parcel is a mineral lease, you can use the Mineral Map button on the MTO home page and identify the mineral tenure. You can then use the Tenure Search button to get information on the claim/lease and it's owner.

Sometimes, when you get information on a Survey Parcel, all you learn is that it's a District Lot. There is generally a link to Show Gator Details. If you click on the link, you are generally asked to login with your BCeID. If you want to pursue it badly enough, you can probably figure out what the situation is, but often it is not easy.