Who Owns the Mineral Rights to My Property?

Understanding who truly owns what lies beneath your land is just as important as owning the land itself. One key aspect of property ownership that people often forget is mineral rights. These rights can change everything from land value to future property use.

Keep reading to learn how mineral rights work, how they differ from surface rights, and how to find out if you or someone else has the power to sell the mineral rights to your land.

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Key Takeaways

• Owning land doesn’t always mean you own the minerals beneath it.
• Mineral rights and surface rights can be sold or inherited separately.
• You can check local property records or hire professionals to find out who owns mineral rights.
• Mineral rights can be incredibly valuable, and many owners choose to sell them for a profit.
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Mineral Rights vs. Surface Rights

Just because you own land doesn’t mean you own the minerals under it. Surface rights and mineral rights can be owned separately. You might control the land above while someone else owns the oil, gas, and metals underground. You can learn about these two types of property rights below:

• Surface Rights – Surface owners control the use of the surface of the land, such as building structures, cultivating crops, or raising livestock. They extend to a certain depth beneath the ground to account for things like basements and septic systems.
• Mineral Rights – Mineral rights enable the owner to drill, mine, and sell the resources that lie beneath the land. 

These rights can be sold or inherited separately, and it’s important to know who owns the mineral rights to your property before making any decisions. The Mineral Auction can help you sell your mineral rights at auction.

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How to Find Out Who Owns Mineral Rights

In some cases, the surface rights and mineral rights of a given piece of land have been split over time, and figuring out what you own can take a bit of research. Here’s a simple guide on how to find out who owns metal, oil, and gas rights to your property:

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1. Start with Your Property Deed

Your property deed is the first place to check. It might say whether the mineral rights were included when the land was sold to you. If someone else kept those rights, the deed should also mention it.

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2. Visit the County Clerk’s Office

Head to the county clerk’s office in the area where your land is located and bring your property’s legal description. You can get this from the tax office if needed. Then, ask to look through the deed records for your land.

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3. Read the Deeds in Reverse Order

Begin with your current deed and work backward. Check each past sale to see if mineral rights were kept by a previous owner. Look for terms like “oil,” “gas,” or “all mineral rights reserved.”

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4. Hire a Landman for Help

If this sounds tricky, you can hire a landman. This is someone who has been trained to research property and mineral ownership. They know how to read deeds and follow the chain of ownership.

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5. Ask a Title Company or Attorney

Some title companies and real estate attorneys can also help. They’ll go through the records and explain what you do or don’t own. An attorney familiar with mineral law may be especially helpful if ownership is split among multiple heirs or becomes complicated.

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Who Buys Mineral Rights?

Mineral rights purchasers range from large energy companies to private investors. Mineral rights ownership can also involve a long list of players, each with different reasons for buying. Here are some of the most common types of buyers:

• Oil and Gas Exploration Companies – These companies buy mineral rights so they can look for oil and gas underground. Their goal is to discover new resources and bring them to market.
• Production Companies – These companies go to work extracting minerals once they have been found. They buy mineral rights to increase their drilling or mining opportunities.
• Integrated Oil and Gas Companies – These big companies handle everything from finding oil and gas to processing and selling it. They buy mineral rights to take control over the entire supply chain for that estate.
• Independent Operators – These smaller companies generally focus on a single area or region. They tend to offer more personalized deals to mineral owners.
• Investment Funds and Private Equity Firms – These buyers see mineral rights as a long-term investment. They may buy the rights and then lease them out, or sell them later when prices rise.
• Mining Companies – Some companies focus on hard minerals, such as gold, copper, or coal, rather than oil and gas. These companies buy mineral rights to plan future mining projects or to start digging right away.
• Royalty Companies – These companies don’t drill or mine. Instead, they buy mineral rights so they can earn royalty payments from other companies that do the work. 

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Why Should Mineral Owners Sell?

Asking why someone would sell the mineral rights to their land is a fair question. After all, those minerals might be worth something in the future, and many people will tell you never to sell. However, owning mineral rights doesn’t guarantee you can profit from them through a lease or your own development. Many property owners decide to sell mineral rights for reasons like those listed below:

• Quick Cash — Some people sell to cover emergencies, such as medical bills, home repairs, or debts.
• No Waiting Around — Mineral extraction can take years or never happen at all. Selling means you get paid now, not someday.
• Make the Most of a Boom — Oil and gas prices change. Selling during a high-demand period can generate more revenue.
• Lower Taxes — Selling mineral rights may be taxed less than lease income, and this helps you save big during tax season.
• Simpler Finances — Selling your mineral rights makes managing your money easier. There won’t be room for waiting, guessing, or paperwork for years to come.
• Diversify Investments — Instead of depending on oil or gas, you can use the money to invest in other areas.
• Sell While It Matters — As the world moves toward clean energy, oil and gas may become less valuable. Selling now can protect your profit.

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Contact The Mineral Auction to Auction Your Mineral Rights for Maximum Value

Understanding who owns the mineral rights to your property is key to discovering its full value. Whether you're thinking about selling or just want clarity, knowing what you own above and below the surface of your land puts you in control.

At The Mineral Auction, we specialize in helping mineral rights owners sell their mineral estates through a trusted and transparent auction process. Our team is here to guide you every step of the way so that you can make confident, informed decisions about your property’s true potential.

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Want to make the most of your mineral rights? Contact The Mineral Auction today.

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