Photo Scanner: Mineral Rights

Mineral Rights

Mineral rights are property rights that confer to the holder the right exploit an area for the minerals it harbours. Mineral rights are severable from property ownership. Ownership of mineral rights (more properly "mineral interest") is an estate in real property. Technically it is known as a mineral estate, although often referred to as mineral rights. It is the right of the owner to exploit, mine, and/or produce any or all of the minerals lying below the surface of the property. The mineral estate of the land includes all organic and inorganic substances that form a part of the soil. An exception would be sand, gravel, limestone, subsurface water, etc. which are normally considered part of the surface estate. Mineral estates are often severed from the surface estate. Such severance is accomplished with a conveyance or reservation of these rights.