I have a small mineral interest in Franklin County, TX. Back in 2024, I was contacted by landmen about lithium extraction in the area, but I didn’t lease or sell. Surrounding tracts were purchased, and I’m wondering if that means my minerals can now be accessed through those adjacent rights.
There’s no current production or permits on my tract. I’m trying to decide whether it makes sense to hold or sell, and if selling, where others have had success listing small mineral interests in similar situations. Would appreciate any advice on what options make sense for small mineral owners at this point.
The lithium story is just beginning to unfold. If you have no need to sell, then just sit back and see what happens. Selling when the market is unknown may not get you the best price. How the lithium will be extracted and whether or not it affects the saline water under you acreage will depend upon the drainage spacing allowed.
Thanks for the response. If there are minerals and they extract from the area surrounding what I have, then would it just I have to pay large legal fees to get any return?
Various methods of extraction are used. If they extract from a saline water well, it would probably have a spacing assigned to it and they would lease the acreage in that spacing. Surface owner would get the lease and royalties. Owners would have a proportional royalty payment according to their acreage. They would pay the owner to lease with a bonus and an additional royalty fee for production. If they extract from the water from an oil and gas well, then similar idea, but the mineral estate would own the lithium. New Texas Supreme Court hearing on that item.