Land records · Parcel maps · October 6, 2026
What Is a Mineral Deed? Transferring Mineral Rights
What is a mineral deed? A recorded deed that transfers ownership of oil, gas, or other minerals under land, separate from the surface. Types and records.
What is a mineral deed? A mineral deed transfers ownership of some or all of the minerals beneath a tract of land, such as oil, gas, coal, or metallic ores, separate from the surface. Once minerals are severed from the surface by a deed or reservation, they can be sold, leased, inherited, and mortgaged on their own. Mineral deeds are recorded in the same county land records as surface deeds and are common in oil, gas, and mining regions. This page is general land-records background, not legal advice.
Mineral deed vs royalty deed
| Document | What transfers |
|---|---|
| Mineral deed | Mineral ownership, usually including the right to lease and receive bonus, rentals, and royalties |
| Royalty deed | Only a share of production income, without leasing rights |
| Surface deed with reservation | Surface transfers; seller keeps minerals |
The difference matters for who signs leases and who gets paid.
What a mineral deed typically includes
- Grantor and grantee.
- Legal description of the land.
- The fraction or percentage of minerals conveyed, such as “an undivided one-half interest.”
- Which minerals are included, such as “oil, gas, and other minerals.”
- Whether existing leases and royalties transfer.
- Warranty or quitclaim language.
- Signatures and acknowledgment.
Fractions and confusion
Mineral interests are often split many ways over generations. Deeds describing “1/2 of 1/8 royalty” versus “1/16 of the minerals” have led to disputes. Courts interpret old language under state law. A title examiner or landman can trace fractions through the chain of title.
Finding mineral deeds
Search the grantor-grantee index under owners’ names, and check for deeds or reservations that mention minerals. Some counties keep separate mineral indexes. See how to find out who owns mineral rights and how to use a grantor-grantee index.
Mineral reservations
Many mineral interests were created not by mineral deeds but by reservations in surface deeds, such as “grantor reserves all oil, gas, and minerals.” See what is a mineral reservation.
Unsolicited offers
Owners of mineral rights often receive mail offers to buy their interest. Before signing a mineral deed, understand what you own, whether there are active leases, and what similar interests sell for.
Taxes and assessments
Some states tax mineral interests separately, especially producing ones. Unpaid taxes on severed minerals can lead to tax sales of the mineral interest itself.
Checking an interest before you sign
Before signing a mineral deed as a seller, gather what you can: the deed or will that gave you the interest, any recorded leases on the tract, recent royalty statements, and the county’s tax records for the mineral interest if your state taxes them separately. Leases name the operator and often the royalty fraction. State oil and gas commissions publish well permits and production data by location, which shows whether a tract is producing or near active drilling. With that information, you can judge whether an offer reflects the real value or is based on an outdated estimate.
Heirs and fractional interests
Mineral interests often pass through several generations without probate, leaving title split among many heirs whose names never appear in the land records. Before a company leases or buys, a landman may need affidavits of heirship or probate records from multiple states to show who owns each fraction. If you inherited an interest, recording the documents that prove your ownership makes it easier to lease or sell later.
Bottom line
A mineral deed transfers ownership of minerals beneath land, separate from the surface. It differs from a royalty deed, which conveys only income. Mineral interests are recorded in county land records and can be split into many fractions over time. Read the granting language carefully and trace the chain before buying or selling. Find county recorders via the Platbookmapper map.
What is a mineral deed FAQ
What does a mineral deed transfer?
Ownership of minerals beneath the land, usually with the right to lease and receive income.
What is the difference between a mineral deed and a royalty deed?
A royalty deed transfers only a share of production income, not leasing rights.
Are mineral deeds recorded?
Yes, in the county land records where the land is located.
Can I sell my mineral rights and keep the surface?
Yes. A mineral deed can sever minerals from the surface.
How do I find old mineral deeds?
Search the county grantor-grantee index or a separate mineral index under owners’ names.