Alaska Statutes Title 38. Public Land § 38.05.245. Prospecting sites

(a) Before the discovery of valuable minerals, an exclusive right to prospect by geophysical, geochemical, and similar methods may be acquired by establishing a prospecting site in accordance with the MTRSC system and regulations prescribed by the commissioner. A certificate of location shall be recorded in the recording district where the prospecting site is located within 45 days after posting the notice of location. The locator of a prospecting site has the exclusive right to stake mining claims or leasehold locations within the boundaries of the site. In this subsection, “MTRSC system” means the system described in AS 38.05.195(b)(1) based on the ground location of a complete quarter section or quarter-quarter section of a township.

(b) A prospecting site location may not include within its exterior boundaries, nor shall its boundaries be coincident with more than one boundary of any mining claim, mining leasehold location, or land under a mining lease, unless the locator of the prospecting site is also the owner, optionee, or lessee of said mining property. If such mining property or area is so included or bounded, the prospecting site is void.

(c) A prospecting site remains in effect for two years after the notice of location is attached to a monument at the northeast corner of the site if the one-time rental payment is made within 45 days of location and the work requirements are met. The two-year term begins on the date the notice of location is attached to the monument and may not be extended. During each year, work of a type compatible with the purpose of this section and acceptable to the director shall be done. The minimum expenditure for the work shall be established by the commissioner uniformly for all prospecting sites. Where adjacent prospecting sites are held in common, the expenditure may be made on any one or more locations. If a prospecting site expires, neither the locator nor a successor in interest of the locator may again hold the same prospecting site or any portion of it, as a prospecting site, for a period of one year following the date of expiration or abandonment.