Can you sell just part of your minerals? Yes—here's how it works.
Get Your Free Mineral ValuationMany mineral owners don't realize they have complete flexibility in how much they sell. You're not limited to an all-or-nothing decision. You can sell any percentage of your minerals while keeping the rest.
This flexibility allows you to tailor a sale to meet your specific needs—getting cash now while maintaining future income potential, or monetizing some assets while holding others for appreciation.
You can sell any fraction of your interest. If you own 100% of minerals under a tract, you might sell 25%, 50%, 75%—whatever meets your needs. The deed will convey that specific percentage to the buyer.
If you own minerals under multiple tracts or in multiple counties, you can sell some tracts entirely while keeping others. This is especially useful if some properties are producing while others are speculative.
In some cases, owners sell rights to specific geological formations while retaining rights to others. This is more complex and less common, but possible in certain situations.
Example: You own minerals under 320 acres in two counties. You could sell 100% of one county's minerals and keep the other county entirely. Or sell 50% of both. The choice is yours.
Meet a specific cash need: Pay off debt, make a purchase, fund retirement
Diversify assets: Convert some mineral wealth to other investments
Keep upside exposure: Maintain some participation in future development
Test the market: See what buyers offer before committing fully
Tax planning: Spread capital gains across multiple tax years
Selective selling: Monetize producing areas, keep speculative ones
The operator will update their records to reflect the new ownership. You'll receive royalties based on your remaining interest; the buyer receives royalties based on their purchased interest.
If a lease is in place, the buyer takes their interest subject to that lease. When it expires, you and the buyer independently negotiate new leases. Each owner signs their own lease for their interest.
You and the buyer become co-owners. You don't need each other's permission to sell your remaining interests in the future. Each owner acts independently regarding their share.
The sale is documented with a mineral deed that specifies exactly what percentage or interest is being conveyed. The deed is recorded at the county courthouse to establish the buyer's ownership.
Selling part of your minerals creates additional co-owners. Future buyers of your remaining interest will need to account for this fractional ownership, which may slightly complicate future transactions.
Some buyers may offer slightly less per mineral acre for partial interests due to the complexity. Others pay the same rate regardless of percentage. Getting multiple offers helps ensure fair pricing.
The deed must clearly specify exactly what is being sold—which tracts, what percentage, and any other relevant details. Work with professionals to ensure accurate documentation.
Get a free valuation to understand what all or part of your minerals are worth.
Request Your Free ValuationYes. You can sell any fraction of your mineral rights while retaining the rest. For example, if you own 100% of minerals under a tract, you can sell 50% and keep 50%. Or you can sell interests in some tracts while keeping others entirely. You control what and how much you sell.
Common reasons include: needing immediate cash for a specific purpose while keeping some future income, wanting to diversify by converting part of mineral wealth to other assets, retaining upside potential in some areas while monetizing others, or testing the sales process before selling everything.
After a partial sale, your royalties will be reduced proportionally. If you sell half your interest, you'll receive half the royalties you previously received. The buyer will receive the other half. The operator will update their records to pay each owner their respective shares.
Yes, mineral buyers regularly purchase partial interests. They're accustomed to owning fractional shares alongside other owners. Some buyers may offer slightly less per net mineral acre for partial interests due to the added complexity, but many pay comparable prices.
If your minerals are currently leased, the buyer takes their share subject to the existing lease. They'll receive their proportional share of royalties under that lease. When the lease expires, both you and the buyer will independently decide whether to sign new leases.
Disclaimer: This information is for educational purposes only and should not be considered legal or financial advice. Consult with qualified professionals before making decisions about selling mineral rights.