How to Make a Mining Claims Map

To make a mining claims map, import your claims boundary as a GeoJSON file, assign the Claims layer role for automatic styling, add context layers (roads, water), choose a basemap and design theme, then export as PNG or PDF.

What You Need Before You Start

Before creating your mining claims map, gather the following:

Your mineral claims boundary as a GeoJSON or Shapefile (convert Shapefiles to GeoJSON at mapshaper.org)
Optional: Roads and water body GeoJSON for geographic context
Your company logo (PNG or JPG)
The project name, map date, and any required disclaimers

Step 1: Import Your Claims Data

Open Exploration Maps and click the import button in the Layers section of the sidebar. Select your GeoJSON file — the layer is added automatically and the map fits to your claims boundary. If your claims data is in CSV format with corner coordinates, you can import that instead and the Column Mapper will help you assign the correct fields.

Step 2: Assign the Claims Layer Role

Click on the layer card to expand it, then select 'Claims' from the Role dropdown. This applies standard styling automatically: a blue stroke with a light blue semi-transparent fill. This is the conventional styling for mineral claims used in NI 43-101 technical reports and recognized by investors and regulatory reviewers.

Step 3: Add Context Layers

A claims map without geographic context is difficult to read. Add roads and water bodies to help viewers understand accessibility and regional geography. Enable the Context overlay in the Design section (roads, towns, water) and the Reference Labels overlay for place names. Reduce the overlay opacity to 40–60% so your claims data remains visually dominant.

Step 4: Choose a Basemap and Theme

For investor presentations and NI 43-101 reports, the Light basemap with the Investor — Navy & White theme is the standard choice. For properties with interesting terrain or for satellite imagery context, use the Satellite basemap. The Technical — Sharp Borders theme is preferred for regulatory filings and formal technical documents.

Step 5: Configure the Title Block

Click the title text on the map to edit it inline. Enter your project name as the main title and your company name as the subtitle. Add the Map Date and Project Number in Design → Text & Metadata. Upload your company logo using the logo uploader at the bottom of the Layers section.

Step 6: Export Your Map

Activate the appropriate ratio in the Export section: Landscape 16:9 for PowerPoint slides and news releases, Letter Portrait for technical reports. Pan and zoom to frame your claims precisely within the ratio bounds. Click PNG for presentations and web use, or PDF for print-ready documents. Enter your email to unlock watermark-free exports.

Frequently Asked Questions

What file format do I need for mining claims data?

GeoJSON is the preferred format. You can convert Shapefiles (.shp) to GeoJSON for free at mapshaper.org or using QGIS. If you only have corner coordinates in a spreadsheet, export it as CSV and use the Column Mapper to assign latitude and longitude columns.

What is the standard colour for mineral claims on a map?

The conventional colour is blue — a medium blue stroke (#2563eb or similar) with a light blue semi-transparent fill at around 20–25% opacity. This is the default applied when you assign the Claims role in Exploration Maps, and it matches the convention used in most NI 43-101 technical reports.

Can I export a mining claims map as a PDF?

Yes. Click the PDF button in the toolbar to export. Choose your page size (Letter Landscape, A4 Landscape, or News Release Figure) in the export dialog. PDFs are vector-quality and suitable for print in regulatory filings and technical reports.

How do I show multiple claim blocks with different colours?

Import each claim block as a separate GeoJSON layer, then set a different colour for each layer using the stroke and fill colour pickers in the layer controls. Each layer will appear as a separate entry in the legend. You can rename each layer to something descriptive like 'Zone 1 Claims' or 'Optioned Claims'.

Does the map need a north arrow and scale bar?

For NI 43-101 reports and most regulatory submissions, yes — a north arrow and scale bar are standard requirements. Toggle them on in the Design section. The scale bar calculates the displayed distance automatically from the current zoom level.