Claim Staking - Minerals and Petroleum - New Brunswick

Mineral claims can be staked only by an actual person who holds a prospecting licence. A company or another person, either of whom must hold a prospecting licence, may have claims staked for them by a person who holds a prospecting licence.

Mineral claims are valid for one year from the date of recording. Although there is no limit to the number of claims that can be recorded or held under one licence, there is a maximum limit of 256 claim units that may be recorded at a time. Contiguous claim units held under the same prospecting licence may be grouped together as long as the resultant group does not exceed 256 claim units. The limit to the size of the resultant claim group applies to claim units recorded after November 11, 2008. Claims can be staked on Sundays, or other holidays, except in the case where expired or surrendered claims came open for staking.

How to Stake a Mineral Claim?

Starting November 12, 2008 at 9:00 a.m, the Province put in place a map staking system to replace ground staking. This system is in place until an online map staking system is implemented. The new claim maps are based on the Minerals and Oil and Natural Gas grid map which allows staking by selecting claim units. The following are the instructions to stake and register claim units:

Step	Description
1	Access hard copy claim map at either the Fredericton or the Bathurst office or an online claim map (PDF format) if you have Internet access.
2	Select the grid area, then the section, then the units of your interest.
3	Fill out the Application to Register Mineral Claim Units with applicant information. Please ensure that you complete the form properly in order to avoid rejection of your application.
4	In the Claim Selection block of the Application to Register Mineral Claim Unit(s) form, check only the statement that you want from the available list then proceed as follows: Enter the grid number as shown on the claim map Enter the section number Enter the unit letter (range from A to P) Samples of claim unit selection are shown in this presentation.
5	Enter the total number of claim units you wish to acquire and related fees. Ensure your application does not exceed 256 claim units and that the refundable work deposit amount is included. For more than 30 claim units per annum, per individual licence holder, an additional $50 refundable work deposit applies for each claim unit. The same deposit will apply to partnerships and companies for any amount of claim units registered.
6	Enter payment information (credit card information)
7	Date and sign the application form
8	Fax your application form to 1-888-326-1555 (Recorder’s Office in Fredericton)

If your application is successful, your agreement package (including a signed exploration agreement, a letter of acceptance, a page size map showing the location of your claim units, a copy of your original application form, and a payment receipt) will be sent to you within five business days. If your application is rejected, a letter will be sent to you detailing the reason(s) for rejection.

Reasons for Application Rejection

To avoid rejection of your application, please ensure you fill it out properly. The following are fatal issues that will cause rejection of application:

Landowner Notification

The Mining Act states that as soon as possible following the staking of claims on private lands or on a lease of Crown lands, the claim holder or his/her agent must make every reasonable effort to inform the owners of the private lands or the lessee of the Crown lands that claims have been staked.

Claim Renewal

A mineral claim can be renewed each year prior to its anniversary date on condition that the claim holder performs the required work, submits the Report of Work, and pays the renewal fee; and providing that the Mining Act and Regulations are not contravened.

Claim Transfer

Mineral claims may be transferred by filling out a Transfer Application-Form 17 and submitting your request to the Recorder. Either the Affidavit of subscribing witness for an individual or the corporate affidavit for a company must accompany the transfer application, in addition to the applicable fee.

Claim Expiry

The area of an expired claim comes open for staking at 8:00 a.m. on the first day the Recorder’s Office is open for business following the 20th day after the expiry. The claim area cannot be restaked by the person who previously held the claim, or by anyone in his/her name, before 8:00 a.m. on the 63rd day after the expiry or surrender.

Claim Surrender or Cancellation

The holder of a recorded mineral claim may at any time surrender the claim upon giving a written notice of the surrender to the Recorder.

If you add your name to our electronic mailing list, you will automatically receive this information each month free of charge. If you prefer to receive a hard copy, an annual charge of $10.00 (plus tax) will apply.