Mineral survey oddities are often the rule rather than the exception. I've been working on a project where the claims are all above the vegetation line. The lode mining claim, Archibald is located in an extremely precipitous area where monuments could not be set at the corners. The Archibald was surveyed after another claim (Sur. No. 15209) was abandoned. The Archibald is located 45 ft. east of the abandoned claim and used the two witness corners of the abandoned claim as witness corners to the Archibald. This is the first example I've found of a lode mining claim where none of the corners were able to be set and the terrain is so gnarly that the witness corners are off-line witness corners.
As far as some poor slob having to retrace the claim, both witness corners are "+" that are chiseled four feet up from the base of "high cliffs."
Below is an aerial photo of the area. The south endline of the claim is located approx. 900 feet north of the east-west ridge line at the bottom of the photo and the westerly side line is just east of the ridge running to the north. Thankfully, my task is only to plot up the claim and show its position on a georeferenced aerial photo. I'll also create a kml file so that my client can see it in 3D. The southwestern part of the Archibald is in conflict with one of my client's claims. Good luck to anyone wanting stake the boundaries of the conflict.
Anyone have similar examples of off-line witness corners? The field notes for the Archibald state, "Owing to inaccessibility, it was impracticable to set the witness corners on the lines of the survey."
Interesting project Gene. I haven't done many mineral claim retracements over the years (and usually got in touch with you beforehand when I did), but no I have not dealt with any claims that had off line witness corners. My projects were easily accessible (near Leadville) and did not have the challenges this one does. Always enjoy reading about your projects- cheers! Chuck
Would probably be entertaining watching them mine that claim too
Anyone have similar examples of off-line witness corners?
I wouldn't even have similar examples of relief over a site I worked on.
If it is an off-line witness where I'm at, it is either someone was too lazy to calc it online or maybe two creeks that come together with both centers being the boundary.
Would probably be entertaining watching them mine that claim too
Between 1901 and 1908 there was nearly $3000 in mining improvements made. Two mineral surveys (Sur. Nos. 15121 and 15209) were abandoned before being reclaimed as the Archibald lode mining claim.The first was oriented east-west and draped over the divide. The main mining improvement was a cut 15 feet long with an adit extending an additional 100 feet. I'm pretty sure the miners did that work by hand, whew!!
I drew a rectangle where the cut + adit are located. Looks like they probably walked up the scree slope to get there rather than glissading down from either ridge line.
Wow, that's some serious perseverance!
good stuff, Gene!?ÿ ?ÿAs always.?ÿ?ÿ
Seen lots of witness corners, seen some X marks the corner monuments, but I haven't seen any off-line witness corner monuments. There are lots of reference monuments in the Powder River Basin set by the BLM but they are always referred to as RM's.
