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.
Read more about this topic: Mineral Rights
Famous quotes containing the word estate:
“Wilt thou have this Woman to thy wedded wife, to live together after God’s ordinance in the holy estate of Matrimony? Wilt thou love her, comfort her, honour, and keep her in sickness and in health; and, forsaking all other, keep thee only unto her, so long as ye both shall live?”
—Book Of Common Prayer, The. Solemnization of Matrimony, “Betrothal,” (1662)