Mineral rights and leasing

Mineral rights refer to the ownership of underground resources like oil, gas, or minerals, separate from the surface land. When someone owns these rights, they can explore and extract these resources, often through leasing. Leasing involves granting companies or individuals permission to drill or mine in exchange for rent or royalties. The landowner retains surface rights, while the lessee obtains the right to access and extract minerals for a specified period, following agreed terms. This arrangement enables resource development without selling the land itself, balancing property ownership with resource exploitation.