My siblings and I inherited less than 4 NMA mineral rights in Lea County, Township 25S, Range 35R, section 4 and had a quiet title to get them in our names a couple years ago. We subsequently got leases with ConocoPhillips and are getting royalties. Our inheritance also came with surface rights. We now see that a company LeaCo128Ranch, LLC out of Midland Texas (previously Destiny Management) seems to be acquiring through legal channels almost all surface rights. Coincidentally there seems to be NM DOT projects in the vicinity that may utilize some of this area. I am wondering if the surface rights are suddenly valuable and if so, why we were not approached. The town assessor does not have any real property under our names. I don’t understand how that would work anyway for a fractional interest and what property taxes would be. Any advice or referrals would be greatly appreciated.