The owner of land possesses what rights regarding the earth beneath the surface?

The correct understanding is that the owner of land possesses mineral rights concerning the earth beneath the surface. Mineral rights refer specifically to the ownership and control over the minerals found below the surface of a property. This means that the landowner has the legal authority to extract or manage the resources such as oil, gas, coal, and other minerals, as long as these rights have not been sold or leased to another party.

In real estate law, while a property owner typically has surface rights, which allow them to use the land above the ground, mineral rights can be separate and distinct. A landowner may own the surface rights but not the rights to the minerals beneath it, which could be owned by a different individual or entity. Thus, understanding mineral rights is crucial for comprehending the full scope of ownership that may extend below the surface of a property.

Access rights and aerial rights pertain to the use of land above the surface or the need for access to a property, which does not directly relate to the ownership of subsurface mineral resources. Surface rights grant a landowner the ability to use the surface of the property but do not encompass the rights to the minerals located underground.