The Sale of Mineral Rights

Mineral rights for property can be bought and sold.

Mineral rights refers to the right to own, mine and sell minerals beneath the surface of the Earth. In some cases, mineral rights come with ownership of land, or be purchased from the owner of the land.

Identification

Throughout most of the world, mineral resources, and therefore mineral rights, belong to the government of the country. In the United States individuals can have both surface and mineral rights to land. This type of ownership is known as a fee simple estate.

Considerations

Mineral rights can be purchased from the owner of the land while they retain surface rights to the property. This is common in cases where the landowner lacks the interest or ability to mine the minerals.

Types

Mineral rights may be sold as a complete unit or in portions. Selling them as a whole grants the buyer the right to all minerals found there. When sold in part, they are given the right to mine specific minerals or individual units.

References

• Geology: Mineral Rights Basic information about mineral, surface, oil and gas rights.

Resources

• How to Sell Minerals: How To Sell Minerals (How To Sell Mineral / Royalty Rights)