1. Whenever a patented mine or mining claim has become the property of a county through operation of the revenue laws of this state, any citizen of the United States may file with the board of county commissioners of such county an affidavit and petition to explore and develop the mine or claim, provided the mine or claim has been the property of the county for less than 1 year, at the time of such filing.
2. The affidavit and petition shall state:
(a) That the petitioner is a citizen of the United States.
(b) That there is belonging to the county, as shown by the official records thereof, a patented mine or mining claim, sufficiently identifying it, which has become the property of the county through operation of the revenue laws of this state.
(c) The amount of the tax, penalties and costs, if any, for which the mine or claim became the property of the county.
(d) That it is the petitioner’s bona fide intention to explore and develop the mine or claim.