A landowner's share in the production of minerals is categorized as what type of interest?

The correct choice, which is royalty interest, refers specifically to a landowner’s share in the production of minerals extracted from their property. This type of interest allows the landowner to receive a percentage of the income generated from the sale of the minerals, without having operational control over the extraction process itself.

Royalty interests are common in the context of mineral rights, where landowners lease their land to mining or oil companies. The royalty is determined based on the amount of production and the market value of the extracted resources. This structure benefits landowners by providing them with income while allowing companies to operate without the responsibilities associated with ownership of the land.

In contrast, leasehold interest pertains to the rights a tenant has under a lease agreement, which does not specifically address the landowner's share of mineral production. Property interest represents broader ownership rights that do not focus solely on minerals. Commercial interest typically refers to interests related to business operations and activities rather than the specific allocation of mineral production rights. Hence, royalty interest is the precise term that captures the nature of the relationship between a landowner and the extraction of minerals from their property.