Which of the following defines mineral rights?

Mineral rights refer specifically to the rights to extract and utilize the minerals found beneath the surface of a piece of land. This includes resources like oil, gas, coal, metals, and other valuable substances located underground. When a property owner sells land, they may retain these mineral rights, allowing them to profit from any resources extracted by another party.

The other options do not accurately describe mineral rights. For instance, the rights to land above the surface pertain to surface rights, which are focused on the area of land and its usage but do not include the resources below the surface. Similarly, rights to adjacent water bodies relate to water rights and the management of water resources, while rights to airspace above property address a different legal area concerning air rights. Each of these alternatives highlights aspects of property rights unrelated to minerals, confirming that the definition of mineral rights is indeed tied specifically to underground resources.