Mineral Interests in Alberta

Overview

In Alberta mineral rights are held by the provincial government, the federal government and private individuals and organizations.  Private mineral rights function much like real estate, allowing owners to buy, sell, lease, or pass them down, with all agreements managed strictly between private parties. 

Property titles clearly define whether a landholder owns the surface rights, the underlying minerals, or both, and these official records can be searched online or through local registry agents.

Mineral rights holdings in Alberta

Mineral rights ownership in Alberta falls into three main categories:

• Provincial Crown Minerals (81%): The vast majority of mineral rights belong to the people of Alberta, held on their behalf and administered by the Department of Energy and Minerals.
• Federal Crown Minerals (10.6%): A smaller portion of mineral rights is held by the federal government, primarily located within national parks and First Nations reserve lands.
• Private / Freehold Minerals (8.4%): The remaining mineral rights are privately owned property governed by provincial property laws.
  • Corporations, Trusts, & Organizations (90%): The vast majority of freehold rights are owned by corporations (mostly oil and gas companies), religious organizations, or trusts established for family and estate-planning purposes.
  • Individuals (10%): A small fraction of freehold rights is held directly by individuals, often inherited through historic land grants awarded to early settlers, railways, and the Hudson’s Bay Company.

Find out more about mineral ownership in Alberta:

• Mineral ownership

How to search a Mines and Minerals title: 

A Certificate of Title issued by Alberta Land Titles specifies which mineral rights are held by the owner. Where a certificate reflects surface ownership only, the legal description will typically include a mineral reservation, such as “excepting thereout all mines and minerals.” 

If the certificate includes both surface and mineral rights, no mineral reservation will appear. Where the certificate is for minerals only, the minerals will be identified using wording such as “all coal, petroleum and natural gas” or “all mines and minerals.”

To look up a mineral title in Alberta, follow these steps:

1. Gather Required Information: You will need at least one of the following identifiers for the property:
   1. Legal land description 
   2. Land Identification Number Code (LINC number)
   3. Title number
2. Search for the title online using the SPIN2 system or Alberta Registry for Land Online (ARLO) or request a search in person through a local registry agent.
3. Review Title Details:
   1. Surface Only: Contains a mineral reservation clause (for example, "excepting thereout all mines and minerals").
   2. Surface & Minerals: There may or may not be a mineral reservation clause.
   3. Minerals Only: Explicitly lists the granted minerals (for example, "all mines and minerals" or "all coal, petroleum and natural gas").

If you have searched and are unable to find a title, contact the Mines and Minerals Team at [email protected] or at Energy and Minerals.