Q: I'm interested in prospecting (at least curious about it).
A: In the US, unclaimed land and money are held by the government in respective states. Laws decide how long to wait before the land is turned over to the state (known therefore as unclaimed land). And while the state does try to locate the rightful owners, in most cases the land remains unclaimed and 'open' to new buyers. It's estimated that 1 in every 8 people have land or money that's rightfully theirs -- ranging from an average of $250 right up to a 6-figure claim. Treasure hunters and land speculators are common beneficiaries of unclaimed lands.