U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
Mining claims + land management
BLM MLRS contributes Mining Claims — Not Closed records and mapped geometry where available. BLM Colorado and Arizona Surface Management Agency data supplies land-management context.
COLORADO + ARIZONA · MINING CLAIMS · DEEP RESEARCH · OFFLINE GPS
Research new ground with mining claims, mineral evidence and geology on the same map.
GroundRove combines current BLM mining-claim records, mineral evidence, state geology, historic mines and land status so you can investigate places that may never appear on a rockhounding list. Colorado and Arizona are available now. Research an area, see what is documented there, check the claims and land around it, save promising ground, then take the same map and research with you offline.
FOUNDING OFFER
$55ONCE.
LIFETIME
ACCESS.
ACCESS.
Comparable paid mapping apps are roughly $40–$100/year.
Future GroundRove upgrades included · No annual GroundRove membership fee
7-day free trial+7 days to request a 100% refund after purchase
Colorado and Arizona are included now. Founding Access also covers future planned state expansions.
FOUNDING ACCESS DETAILS
See full price + feature comparison
Colorado + Arizona included · Future upgrades included.
Jump to comparison ↓
See the research workflow
BLMmining claims + land management
USGS + former USBMmineral + mine records
USGS + Colorado Geological SurveyColorado + Arizona geology and state context
OpenStreetMap / Protomapsoffline basemap context
DISCOVER AREAS FOR YOURSELF
Start with the ground, not somebody else’s pin.
Known rockhounding locations tell you where people have already looked. GroundRove is built to help you investigate the rest of the map. Move to an area in Colorado or Arizona and examine the mineral evidence, geology, historic mining activity, BLM mining claims and land status around it. Start with a mineral, a geologic unit, an old mining district, a place on the map or simply an area that looks worth investigating.
BLM MINING CLAIMS + LAND STATUS
Interesting ground is only part of the question. Check the claims around it.
GroundRove puts BLM MLRS mining-claim records on the same map as the geology and mineral evidence you are researching. When an area starts looking interesting, you do not have to leave the research workflow to see the claim record and surrounding land context.
Tap a location to inspect available claim details, including claim type, status, serial information, acreage and mapping-quality information.
- BLM MLRS mining-claim records on the map
- Public and private land-status context
- Claim details tied back to the mapped location
- Source and mapping-quality notes where they matter
Claim geometry is research context, not a surveyed legal boundary. Land status does not independently establish legal access or collecting permission.
FOUNDING OFFER
Bring the research onto the same map you use in the field.
Get lifetime GroundRove access for $55 once. Comparable paid mapping apps are roughly $40–$100/year. Try GroundRove free for 7 days, and after purchase you have 7 days to request a 100% refund.
$55 once · lifetime accessComparable paid mapping apps: roughly $40–$100/year
Start 7-Day Free Trial7-day free trial · 7 days to request a 100% refund after purchase
MINERAL EVIDENCE RESEARCH
Look for patterns in the evidence, not just known collecting sites.
Choose a mineral or material and analyze the area on your screen. GroundRove turns the underlying source records into a geographic evidence heatmap so you can see where documented evidence becomes stronger or more concentrated.
Open the records behind the pattern instead of treating every point equally. Direct occurrences, mineral localities, historic mining records and broader district evidence can tell you different things about an area.
Mineral Evidence shows documented evidence. It does not predict that you will find a mineral at a location.
See the records geographically, not just in a list.
The Founding Access is $55 once for lifetime access—not another annual mapping subscription. Start with a 7-day free trial; after purchase, you have 7 days to request a 100% refund.
$55 once · lifetime accessComparable paid mapping apps: roughly $40–$100/year
Start 7-Day Free Trial7-day free trial · 7 days to request a 100% refund after purchaseSIDE BY SIDE
Finding known rockhounding spots and researching new ground are not the same thing.
Some rockhounding apps are built primarily around established collecting locations. GroundRove is built around investigating arbitrary ground: mineral evidence, geology, historic mining activity, BLM mining claims and land context are brought together so you can decide where you want to investigate next. Known rockhounding locations are planned for GroundRove too, but they will become another research layer rather than replacing the deeper research workflow.
The full table sits here—after the core research differentiators and before the rest of the field workflow and the Founding Access details.
✓Included◐Limited↗External data—Not documented
GroundRove: $55 once for life. Comparable paid mapping apps: roughly $40–$100/year.Start with a 7-day free trial. After purchase, you still have 7 days to request a 100% refund.
GroundRove feature names below match the labels used in the app wherever possible.
| Capability | GroundRoveGroundRoveFounding Access | RockHoundRRockHPro | RockdRockdFree | MindatMindatFree | onX BackcountryonX BCElite | Gaia GPSGaiaPremium | OsmAndOsmAndPro | Avenza MapsAvenzaPlus | CalTopoCalTopoPro | BaseMapBaseMapPro | LandGlideLandGPersonal | onX HuntonX HuntPremium · 1 state |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated mobile app | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Comparable price | $55 oncelifetime access*7-day free trial | $49.99/yrPro† | Freeno paid tier | Freemembership free | $99.99/yrElite‡ | $59.99/yrPremium | $39.99/yrPro · US App Store | $34.99/yrPlus§ | $50/yrPro | $39.99/yrPro | $99.99/yrPersonal | $34.99/yrPremium · 1 state¶ |
| Analyze visible mineral evidence | ✓ | — | — | ◐ | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Search minerals / materials | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | — | ✓ | ↗ | ↗ | ↗ | — | — | — |
| Mining claims | ✓ | ◐ | — | ◐ | — | — | ↗ | ↗ | ↗ | — | — | ◐ |
| Historic mines & prospects | ✓ | ◐ | — | ✓ | — | ✓ | ↗ | ↗ | ↗ | — | — | — |
| Colorado geology | ✓ | ◐ | ✓ | ◐ | — | ✓ | ↗ | ↗ | ✓ | — | — | — |
| Search & explore geology | ✓ | ◐ | ✓ | ◐ | — | ◐ | ↗ | ↗ | ◐ | — | — | — |
| Analyze current map area | ✓ | — | ◐ | ◐ | — | — | ↗ | ↗ | — | — | — | — |
| Geology filters | ✓ | — | ◐ | ◐ | — | — | ↗ | ↗ | — | — | — | — |
| Geology + Mineral Evidence | ✓ | ◐ | — | ◐ | — | ◐ | ↗ | ↗ | ↗ | — | — | — |
| Research results on the map | ✓ | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | — | — | ↗ | ↗ | — | — | — | — |
| Land management | ◐ | ◐ | — | — | ◐ | ✓ | ↗ | ↗ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Offline maps + GPS | ✓ | ✓ | ◐ | ◐ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Track & backtrack + saved field data | ✓ | ◐ | ◐ | ◐ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ◐ | ✓ |
| Import / export data | ✓ | ◐ | — | — | ◐ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ◐ | ◐ | ✓ |
Comparable pricing: GroundRove $55 once for lifetime Founding access, with a 7-day free trial and a 7-day 100% refund period after purchase; RockHoundR Pro $49.99/year; Rockd free; Mindat free; onX Backcountry Elite $99.99/year; Gaia GPS Premium $59.99/year; OsmAnd Pro $39.99/year in the U.S. App Store; Avenza Maps Plus $34.99/year; CalTopo Pro $50/year; BaseMap Pro $39.99/year; LandGlide Personal $99.99/year; onX Hunt Premium $34.99/year for one state.
Pricing checked August 30, 2026. Main cells use regular annual/list pricing for the paid tier that most closely matches the capabilities represented in this chart; temporary first-year promotions and monthly billing are not used as the headline comparison. *GroundRove includes a 7-day free trial, then $55 lifetime as the introductory Founding Access, followed by 7 days to request a 100% refund after purchase; after the founding period, regular pricing for new customers becomes $55/year, while Founding customers remain lifetime and receive future GroundRove upgrades. †The U.S. App Store currently lists RockHoundR Pro yearly purchases at both $49.99 and $29.99; $49.99 is used as the primary current annual listing here, but an alternate/legacy offer may be available. ‡onX Backcountry Elite is $99.99/year at regular renewal pricing and is the tier that adds private land boundaries and landowner names; a temporary $30 first-year promotion is currently advertised. §Avenza Plus is the recreational tier at $34.99/year; Avenza Pro is a much more expensive professional/commercial tier and is not used for this consumer comparison. ¶onX Hunt Premium is $34.99/year for one state; Elite is $99.99/year for all 50 states plus Canada and additional tools. RockHoundR features were checked against its official website, current App Store / Google Play materials and current in-app behavior on August 30, 2026; other competitor features were previously checked against official product/help/store materials. “Not documented” means the reviewed official materials did not establish a comparable built-in feature. Promotions and product terms can change.
THE REST OF THE MAP IS STILL THERE
Lock in $55 lifetime access instead of another annual mapping bill.
Comparable paid mapping apps are roughly $40–$100/year. GroundRove Founding customers pay $55 once, keep lifetime access and receive future GroundRove upgrades.
$55 once · lifetime accessComparable paid mapping apps: roughly $40–$100/year
Start 7-Day Free Trial7-day free trial · 7 days to request a 100% refund after purchaseOFFLINE GPS + FIELD TOOLS
Your research doesn't disappear with your signal.
GroundRove's installed Colorado and Arizona maps and research datasets stay available offline on your phone. The GPS and field workflow keep working when cellular service is gone, so the same app you used to research a place is the one you carry into it.
Know where you areUse live GPS position and Center GPS on the offline map.
Save where it mattersSave GPS locations and organize places you want to return to.
Track your routeRecord a track and use Track & backtrack to retrace it.
Navigate directionallyUse Navigate for bearing guidance to a target. GroundRove does not calculate a safe or practical route.
Measure in the fieldMeasure distance and area directly on the map.
Record what you findCreate Field Records for observations or sample locations.
Keep trip contextUse Saved locations, Trips and coordinate tools in the same workflow.
Use map context offlineKeep roads, trails, streams, terrain and research layers available without cell service.
OFFLINE IN COLORADO
Map + research + GPS
Mining claimsAvailable offline
Land statusAvailable offline
Mineral evidenceAvailable offline
Geology + historic minesAvailable offline
GPS + field toolsWorks without cell service
One field system across Colorado and Arizona, even beyond service.
$55 once keeps GroundRove for life, including future upgrades and offline field tools. Start with a 7-day free trial; after purchase, you have 7 days to request a 100% refund.
$55 once · lifetime access
Start 7-Day Free Trial7-day free trial · 7 days to request a 100% refund after purchaseGO DEEPER THAN THE MINERAL RECORD
Use the geology to narrow the search.
A mineral record tells you something was documented somewhere. Geology can help you investigate why it was there and what else nearby deserves attention.
Search installed Colorado or Arizona geology, inspect units in the current map area, and move between geology, Mineral Evidence and historic mining records without rebuilding the search in separate apps.
- Search by geology term
- Filter by lithology or age
- Explore geology in the visible map area
- Move between geology, mineral evidence and historic-mine context
TURN RESEARCH INTO AN AREA
When an area looks interesting, keep it as an area.
GroundRove does not force your research into individual pins. Draw the ground you actually want to investigate, measure it, save it as a Prospecting Area, and use that boundary for further mineral, geology and historic-mine research.
Adjust the boundary as your research changes, then reopen the saved Prospecting Area for deeper investigation.
Prospecting Areas are research regions, not legal property or claim boundaries.
THE SOURCE IS PART OF THE MAP
Know what a layer means before you rely on it.
GroundRove's Layers screen explains where claim and historic-mine data comes from, what the symbols represent and the limits of what the source records can prove.
This matters in field research. A mapped claim polygon is not automatically a surveyed legal boundary. A mine point can be a source-record location rather than a surveyed portal. GroundRove puts those qualifications next to the layer.
WHERE GROUNDROVE GETS ITS DATA
Public source data, packaged for Colorado and Arizona field research.
GroundRove packages federal and state mineral, mine, claim, geology, land-management, place-name and basemap data for offline research. The Data Sources page identifies the underlying datasets and the limits that matter when interpreting them.
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY + FORMER USBM
Mineral occurrences + historic mine records
USGS MRDS and historic MAS/MILS records contribute mineral-occurrence and mine research context. Arizona Past Producer MRDS records support Historic Mines & Workings.
USGS SGMC + USGS CNGM
Colorado + Arizona geology
Colorado queryable geology is derived from USGS SGMC. Arizona queryable geology is derived from the USGS Cooperative National Geologic Map (CNGM), Earth’s surface geology.
COLORADO GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
Colorado-specific mining + mineral datasets
Colorado Geological Survey datasets add state-specific mineral, district, locality and historic-mining context where included.
OPENSTREETMAP + PROTOMAPS / USGS GNIS
Basemap + place context
OpenStreetMap-derived data delivered through Protomaps provides offline basemap context. USGS GNIS contributes place-name reference data where included.
WHERE GROUNDROVE IS GOING
Planned Features and Upgrades
GroundRove will keep expanding both sides of the app: deeper ways to research unfamiliar ground before a trip, and better tools for actually using that research outside. Founding Access customers receive future GroundRove upgrades as they are released.
EXPANSION
California, Utah + New Mexico
Colorado and Arizona are available now. California, Utah and New Mexico are planned as the required geology, mineral, claim, land and basemap data are prepared for the same offline workflow.
MAPS
Topographic maps
Add detailed topographic mapping directly to GroundRove’s research and offline field workflow.
MAPS
Satellite imagery
Add satellite map options for comparing terrain, access, disturbance, vegetation and other visible ground conditions with GroundRove’s research layers.
TERRAIN
3D terrain
Explore terrain and surrounding landforms in three dimensions when elevation and physical geography are useful to understanding an area.
RESEARCH
Fossil research
Add fossil occurrence and paleontological datasets so areas can be researched for documented fossil evidence in addition to minerals and mining history.
ROCKHOUNDING
Known rockhounding locations
Add established collecting locations as another research layer—not as the boundary of where GroundRove can search. Use a known location as a reference point, then examine the mineral evidence, geology, mines, claims and surrounding ground to look beyond it.
LAND RESEARCH
Parcel boundaries + ownership data
Planned support for cadastral parcel boundaries and available ownership information, so GroundRove can eventually show more than broad public/private land status when researching an area.
FIELD PLANNING
Camping locations
Show camping options around areas being researched so field-trip planning remains connected to the map.
FIELD CONDITIONS
Field weather
Add useful field conditions and forecasts to the areas you are researching, including recent weather where it can affect access or field conditions.
IDENTIFICATION
Rock, mineral and fossil identification
Add photo-assisted identification tools for specimens found in the field, including rocks, minerals and fossils.
TRIP PLANNING
Nearby field services
Add useful nearby services and field logistics such as fuel, food, lodging and other practical stops around a research area.
RESEARCH
New Research tools
Add more ways to query, filter, compare and cross-reference mineral evidence, geology, mining history, claims and future datasets.
FIELD
New Field tools
Expand what you can navigate, measure, record, import, export and organize while working outside.
PRODUCT
Interface upgrades + additional data
Continue improving the map, Research workflow, Layers system, offline controls and Field interface while adding useful geological, mineral, land and field datasets.
LIMITED-TIME FOUNDING LICENSE
$55 once. Lifetime access—and future GroundRove upgrades included.
Comparable paid mapping apps are roughly $40–$100/year. The $55 Founding Access stays lifetime and includes future GroundRove upgrades, including planned new states and features as they are released.
$55 once · lifetime accessComparable paid mapping apps: roughly $40–$100/year
Start 7-Day Free Trial7-day free trial · 7 days to request a 100% refund after purchasePlanned features may change during development and do not have guaranteed release dates.
GROUNDROVE FOUNDING ACCESS
$55 once. Lifetime GroundRove access.
Future upgrades are included. Colorado and Arizona are included now, and your lifetime Founding Access includes future GroundRove upgrades and planned state expansions.
FOUNDING PRICE$55 lifetime→REGULAR PRICE LATER$55/year
FOUNDING LICENSE
$55
one time · lifetime access
- All future GroundRove upgrades included
- Colorado + Arizona state packages included
7-DAY FREE TRIAL
Use GroundRove for 7 days. Cancel before the trial ends to avoid the $55 one-time charge.
7 DAYS TO REQUEST A 100% REFUND
After the $55 lifetime purchase, you have 7 days to request a 100% refund.
Start 7-Day Free TrialUnless canceled before trial end, your payment method is charged $55 once for lifetime access · No recurring subscription
Saving a payment method does not start the trial clock. The 7-day trial begins when you first activate GroundRove in the Android app.
BEFORE YOU BUY
A few things worth knowing up front.
How do the $55 lifetime access, free trial and refund work?
Saving a payment method does not start the trial. The 7-day trial begins when you first activate GroundRove in the Android app. Unless you cancel the scheduled purchase before the trial ends, your saved payment method is charged $55 once for lifetime GroundRove access. After that successful purchase, you have 7 days to request a 100% refund. There is no recurring subscription.
Is the $55 lifetime price permanent?
No. $55 lifetime is the introductory GroundRove Founding Access. After the founding period, regular pricing for new customers will be $55/year. Founding customers remain on lifetime access.
Do future upgrades cost extra for Founding Access customers?
No. Founding Access includes Colorado and Arizona now, plus future GroundRove upgrades and planned state expansions.
Does GroundRove work without cell service?
Yes. GroundRove's installed Colorado and Arizona maps and research datasets remain available offline, and GPS-based field tools continue working without cellular service.
Does GroundRove show public and private land?
GroundRove shows public and private land-status context. It does not currently provide cadastral private-parcel boundaries and should not be treated as a legal property survey.
Does GroundRove show mining claims?
Yes. GroundRove includes BLM MLRS claim records and mapped geometry where available. A blank map is not legal proof that ground is unclaimed, and mapped claim geometry is not a surveyed legal boundary.
What are mineral evidence heatmaps?
They visualize the density and strength of documented mineral/material evidence in the source records for an area. They are research tools, not probability maps and not predictions of what you will find.
Where does GroundRove's data come from?
Sources include BLM, USGS, the Colorado Geological Survey, former U.S. Bureau of Mines source records where incorporated, and OpenStreetMap-derived basemap data through Protomaps. Colorado geology uses USGS SGMC; Arizona geology uses USGS CNGM. The Data Sources page lists datasets and limitations in more detail.
Does GroundRove tell me whether collecting is legal?
No. GroundRove provides research context including land status and claim records. You still need to verify agency rules, restrictions, legal records and landowner permission for a specific site.
RESEARCH FIRST · THEN GO LOOK
Research the ground. Check the claims. Decide where you want to look.
Use mineral evidence, state geology, historic mining records, BLM mining claims and land status to investigate areas in Colorado or Arizona, then carry the same map and research into the field offline.
$55 once. Lifetime access.Comparable paid mapping apps: roughly $40–$100/year · Future upgrades included · No annual GroundRove membership fee
$55 once · lifetime accessComparable paid mapping apps: roughly $40–$100/year
Start 7-Day Free Trial7-day free trial · 7 days to request a 100% refund after purchase