(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. (f) (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) (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.
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