http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral_rights http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral_rights may help. In particular, selling mineral rights includes selling the ri

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral_rights http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mineral_rights may help. In particular, selling mineral rights includes selling the right to use as much of the surface as is "reasonably necessary" to get the ore, oil, or whatever.