What are mineral rights?

Mineral rights refer specifically to the rights to extract and manage the minerals that are found beneath the surface of a property. This includes the ability to mine for valuable natural resources such as coal, oil, gas, metals, and other minerals. When someone owns the mineral rights to a piece of land, they have the authority to explore and extract these resources, or they can lease these rights to another party.

This distinction is critical in real estate because ownership of the surface land does not automatically grant ownership of the minerals beneath it. Understanding mineral rights is essential for any real estate professional, especially in areas known for mining or resource extraction activities.

The other options pertain to different aspects of property rights and land use and do not relate to the specific rights associated with the extraction of minerals from the land.