What Is a Mineral Estate? Mineral Rights 101

Owning land is more than just caring for what’s on the surface. What lies deep below, like oil, gas, or other mineral resources, can hold just as much, if not more, value. Regardless, many property owners don’t realize they might not fully own what’s underneath their land.

This is where the idea of a mineral estate comes in. This article breaks down what a mineral estate is and why it matters, especially if you're considering selling your mineral rights. It’s a key part of property ownership that often gets overlooked but can impact everything from land use to long-term income. 

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Key Takeaways

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• A mineral estate includes the rights to minerals like oil and gas that are found beneath the land.
• Mineral rights can be sold, leased, or kept by the property owner.
• The mineral estate can also be owned separately from the surface estate.
• Knowing your rights helps you protect your land and your ability to profit from mineral production.

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What Is a Mineral Estate?

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A mineral estate is the part of land that holds oil, gas, or other minerals underneath the ground. When someone owns a mineral estate, they own the mineral rights to those resources. This means they can sell or develop those mineral interests themselves. As a mineral owner, you can also sign a mineral lease or an oil and gas lease to let a company start drilling. A person’s mineral property can also be inherited upon their death.

Mineral rights, mineral interests, and mineral estate are often used interchangeably, though they mean slightly different things. Understanding the basics of mineral rights is important, especially if you’re interested in selling those rights. Knowing your mineral rights can help you determine the value of your resources. 

Mineral Estate vs Mineral Rights vs. Mineral Interests

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The mineral estate is the actual property itself, along with the oil and gas on that property. Mineral rights and mineral interests are the legal control over that mineral estate.

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Mineral Estate vs. Surface Estate

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Surface and mineral rights are two different types of property ownership that can impact how land is used. Mineral rights give you the power to use, sell, or lease the minerals that are present on your property. On the other hand, surface rights allow the property owner to use the land above. This includes building on it, farming, or using water from it. Surface owners also have certain control over impacts to his or her property from mineral development.

It’s possible to own the land’s surface without owning the mineral rights beneath it. This is called a split estate, and it's common in places with oil and gas development.  That’s why many landowners sign surface use agreements with the oil and gas company to protect their surface property. While having surface rights ensures you have control over the development on the surface of the land, a surface use agreement can help ensure there are no disruptions to your property.

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Rights of Mineral Estate Owners

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When you own a mineral estate, you hold special rights that let you benefit from the natural resources below your land. In Texas, landowners often don’t realize they own mineral interests until an oil and gas company contacts them. That’s why it’s important to understand the rights tied to your mineral property. Some of these rights include:

• The right to explore for oil, gas, and other minerals
• The right to develop and produce mineral resources
• The right to lease the land through a mineral lease, oil lease, or gas lease
• The right to receive royalty payments from mineral production
• The right to receive bonus payments when signing a lease
• The right to sell or transfer ownership through a mineral deed

Just because you own mineral rights doesn’t guarantee that you will be able to profit from developing them. Not all properties or deposits are capable of producing oil or gas, and some minerals are more valuable than others. To determine the value of your mineral rights, you should work with a mineral rights broker.

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Ready to Sell? Contact The Mineral Auction to List Your Mineral Interests 

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Knowing what a mineral estate is can help you better understand the true value of your land. Whether you own the surface, the minerals, or both, it’s important to know where your rights begin and end, especially if you’re interested in selling those rights.

At The Mineral Auction, we help owners sell the mineral rights of their property through a clear and reliable auction process. Our team works closely with you to ensure every decision you make is informed, confident, and aligned with your property’s full value.

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Do you want to maximize the value of your mineral property? Get in touch with The Mineral Auction today.

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