A more thorough explanation:

Definition: Mineral rights refer to the ownership of the rights to minerals, such as oil and gas, found in a piece of land. It is a type of real property interest that can be sold separately from the surface estate. Mineral rights include the right to sell all or part of the interest, the right to enter the land to produce and carry on production activities, the right to lease the mineral rights to others, and the right to create fractional shares of the mineral interest. Mineral rights are also known as a “mineral interest” or a “mineral estate.”

Owners of mineral rights can allow others to explore and exploit the land's mineral resources in exchange for royalties and other considerations through a mineral lease. The lease will generally establish the royalties that will be paid to the landowner, the period the agreement will remain in effect, and other key provisions.

Some states require that surface owners and mineral owners enter into a “surface use agreement,” which outlines the rights and responsibilities of each party with regards to use of the surface. Parties may also choose to enter such agreements voluntarily. The surface use agreements may include, for example, a provision that requires the lessee to restore the surface to its natural state upon conclusion of operations or a provision for the mutual use of roads. Clearly written and negotiated surface use agreements can reduce the changes of litigation between the parties.

For example, if a landowner owns mineral rights to a piece of land, they can lease those rights to an oil company. The oil company will then be able to explore and extract oil from the land, and the landowner will receive royalties for the oil extracted. The landowner and the oil company may also enter into a surface use agreement, which will outline the terms of use for the land during the oil extraction process.

Another example is if a landowner sells their mineral rights to a mining company. The mining company will then have the right to extract minerals from the land, and the landowner will receive payment for the sale of their mineral rights.

These examples illustrate how mineral rights can be bought, sold, and leased separately from the surface estate, and how surface use agreements can help regulate the use of the land during mineral extraction.