Every term you'll encounter while researching mineral ownership, reading a title chain, or building a run sheet.
The chronological sequence of documents — deeds, patents, probates, leases — that transfer ownership of a parcel from the original patent to the current owner.
A structured summary listing every recorded document affecting title for a given parcel — the working document a landman uses while building a title opinion.
Mineral rights that have been legally separated from the surface estate and conveyed independently — the core reason mineral ownership research is complicated.
A recorded instrument that conveys ownership of mineral rights (oil, gas, coal, hard-rock minerals) from one party to another.
The common situation where mineral rights are owned in undivided fractional interests — the math problem at the heart of mineral title work.
A regulatory filing submitted to the COGCC outlining a planned drilling development in Colorado — the leading public signal for near-term drilling activity.
Colorado's oil and gas regulator — historically the Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission, rebranded in 2023 to the Energy & Carbon Management Commission.
The grid-based land description system used across the western United States — township, range, section, quarter — the coordinate system of mineral title.
A co-ownership form where, on the death of one owner, their interest automatically passes to the surviving co-owners without probate.
The court process that settles a deceased person's estate — a critical source of title chain links when mineral interests pass to heirs.
The investigative process of locating current addresses, phone numbers, and contact info for mineral owners or their heirs.
A specific mineral owner identified as a high-priority acquisition target — the unit of work for a mineral brokerage.