§ 15-1201
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/md/environment/15-1201A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
§15–1201.
(a)In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated.
(b)“Mineral” includes:
(1)Gas;
(2)Oil and oil shale;
(3)Coal;
(4)Gaseous, liquid, and solid hydrocarbons;
(5)Cement materials, sand and gravel, road materials, and building stone;
(6)Chemical substances;
(7)Gemstone, metallic, fissionable, and nonfissionable ores; and
(8)Colloidal and other clay, steam, and geothermal resources.
(c)“Mineral interest” means an interest in a mineral estate, however created and regardless of form, whether absolute or fractional, divided or undivided, corporeal or incorporeal, including a fee simple or any lesser interest or any kind of royalty, production payment, executive right, nonexecutive right, leasehold, or lien in minerals, regardless of character.
(d)“Severed mineral interest” means a mineral interest that is severed from the interest in the surface estate overlying the mineral interest.
(e)“Surface estate” means an interest in the estate overlying a mineral interest.
(1)“Surface owner” means any person vested with a whole or undivided fee simple interest or other freehold interest in the surface estate.
(2)“Surface owner” does not include the owner of a right–of–way, easement, or leasehold on the surface estate.
(1)“Unknown or missing owner” means any person vested with a severed mineral interest whose present identity or location cannot be determined:
(i)From the records of the county where the severed mineral interest is located; or
(ii)By diligent inquiry in the vicinity of the owner’s last known place of residence.
(2)“Unknown or missing owner” includes the heirs, successors, or assignees of an unknown or missing owner.