What Are Mineral Rights? The Complete Guide to Owning, Leasing and Selling Them

Millions of Americans own oil and gas mineral rights and have no real idea what that means. Some inherited a folder of yellowed documents from a grandparent's estate. Some bought a piece of land and assumed everything under it came with the deed. Some get a small check in the mail every few months and couldn't explain why if asked. Mineral rights are one of the most valuable and least understood assets in the country, and a whole industry has built itself around that gap in knowledge. Landmen, mineral buyers and self-styled "finders" all make a…