Section 15-1201 - Definitions. - Maryland Statutes

§ 15-1201. Definitions.
 

(a)  In general.- In this subtitle the following words have the meanings indicated. 

(b)  Mineral interest.- "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. 

(c)  Mineral.- "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. 

(d)  Severed mineral interest.- "Severed mineral interest" means a mineral interest that is severed from the interest in the surface estate overlying the mineral interest. 

(e)  Surface estate.- "Surface estate" means an interest in the estate overlying a mineral interest. 

(f)  Surface owner.-  

(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. 

(g)  Unknown or missing owner.-  

(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. 
 

[2010, chs. 268, 269.]