It isn't hard. Find a spot on BLM lands that has agates and isn't inside a non-allowed territory (National Monuments, Wilderness Preserves, someone else's claim

It isn't hard. Find a spot on BLM lands that has agates and isn't inside a non-allowed territory (National Monuments, Wilderness Preserves, someone else's claim area, etc.) Get your claim marker boundaries established, file a claim notice with the BLM (make sure to acquire township/range/section/subsection for the area you're trying to make a claim in otherwise you're going to have a hard time) pay your fees and wait for approval. I'd suggest filing a placer claim (surface finds no deeper than 18" below ground) as lode claims tend to need more remediation plans and obviously lots and lots of digging/hard rock mining (I have one lode claim and I'm going to let it expire, too much work.)