They are usually 40 or 80 acres with good road access.You can get a placer or lode claim that's registered with the BLM,Bureau of Land Management for under a grand.You pay $10 a year after you purchase the claim from private parties.You are supposed to prove that you did $100 worth of improvements to the land each year.No one checks.A couple road pole reflectors qualify as a $100 expense. If the claim is in Arizona,there is no property tax.Some of the claims are near the casino town of Laughlin.The best part of the deal is that you own the lease forever and can hand it down,sell it.etc.You can virtually live on the land too.Great recreational opportunity stuff!A decent metal detector costs a few hundred bucks.It beats gambling.