How claims work in Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia registers mineral rights in NovaROC, the province’s online registry of claims with a map viewer. Exploration licences blanket much of the historic gold country; confirm the licence number, holder and term in NovaROC before you pay for anything.
From the Nova Scotia panning guide
Nova Scotia registers mineral rights in NovaROC, the province's online registry of claims, searchable with a map viewer. Exploration licences blanket much of the old gold country, so check the map before planning a pan anywhere in the historic districts — and get the licence holder's permission if the ground is taken.
Verify here
- NovaROC — Nova Scotia mineral rights online
- Recreational mineral collecting brochure (PDF)
- N.S. Geoscience and Mines Branch
Verify the tenure in Nova Scotia's registry before paying anyone. LocalKarat does not verify title, broker sales, or hold funds. This guide is general information for recreational prospectors — it is not legal advice. Mining, land-access, and environmental regulations change and vary site by site. Always verify the current rules with the official sources linked above before heading out, obtain permission from private landowners and mineral-claim holders, and respect First Nations rights, settlement lands, and treaty areas — some lands require permission or are closed to panning entirely.