Mineral Rights - Mineral Estate

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.