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Mineral Surveys There are mineral surveys (MS) located in Montana and South Dakota. A survey is/was required to patent a mining claim (unless the claim could be described by aliquot parts); however, not all surveyed claims are patented. MS records are maintained for each state, and plats are available in aperture card format (Montana is available in microfiche format as well). We only maintain survey notes for claims in Montana, and the notes are on the microfiche with the plats. We have microfiche to cross-reference claim name to survey number. Please note, in Montana there were two mineral districts for awhile, so there is a duplication of some of the mineral surveys numbered 37 through 72 (called District 2). Homestead Entry Surveys Homestead entry surveys (HES) in the states of Montana and South Dakota are usually found in otherwise unsurveyed areas and within a Forest Service boundary. HES were required when an applicant established a metes and bounds land entry claim within an unsurveyed area. These records are filed by survey number.