Land Descriptions Flashcards
Legal Description
The method used to describe and identify a parcel of land in relation to a government survey reference.
Township
A square area of land, typically measuring 6 miles by 6 miles, used in the rectangular survey system.
Range
A series of townships, each one mile wide, that run north and south parallel to the principal meridian.
Section
A one-square-mile area within a township, containing 640 acres.
Quarter Section
A 160-acre portion of a section.
Metes and Bounds
A method of describing land by listing the bearings and distances of the property lines.
Lot and Block
A method of describing land by referring to the lot number and block number within a recorded plat or subdivision, typically used in urban areas and subdivisions.
Aliquot Part
A fractional portion of a section, such as a half or a quarter.
Government Lot
An irregular or fractional portion of a section that cannot be described as an aliquot part.
Mineral Survey
A survey conducted to establish the boundaries of a mining claim or mineral lease.
Baseline
An east-west line used as a reference for establishing townships in the rectangular survey system.
Principal Meridian
A north-south line used as a reference for establishing ranges in the rectangular survey system.
Tier
A row of townships parallel to the baseline or correction line.
Fractional Section
A section that is not a full square mile, typically along the boundaries of a township or reservation.
Subdivision
The division of a larger parcel of land into smaller lots or units.
Plat
A map or plan that shows the layout and boundaries of subdivided land.
Acreage
The total area of a parcel of land, typically measured in acres.
Monuments
Physical markers, such as iron rods or stone monuments, used to mark property boundaries.
Bearings
The horizontal angle or direction of a boundary line, typically measured in degrees from a reference meridian.
Geodetic Survey
A survey that takes into account the curvature of the Earth’s surface and other geodetic factors.
Fractional Mineral Survey
A survey conducted to establish the boundaries of a mineral interest that is less than a full section or quarter section.
Meandered Body of Water
A body of water (e.g., lake, river) whose boundaries are surveyed and used as a reference in legal land descriptions.
Riparian Rights
The rights of a landowner to reasonable use of water adjacent to their property.
Accretion and Avulsion
Accretion refers to the gradual buildup of land due to natural forces, while avulsion is the sudden removal or addition of land due to a rapid event.
Unitization
The combination of multiple leases or mineral interests into a single unit for the purpose of exploration and production.
Pooled Unit
A unit formed by pooling multiple leases or mineral interests to allow for the drilling of a well.
Drilling and Spacing Unit
A designated area established by state regulatory authorities for the purpose of locating and spacing oil and gas wells.
Proration Units
Units used by state regulatory agencies to allocate and distribute production from a common source or reservoir.
Spanish Land Grant
Historical land grants made by the Spanish government in parts of Texas prior to its annexation by the United States.
Vacancy Lands
Unclaimed or unappropriated public lands in Texas that were not included in the original Spanish or Mexican land grants.
A.B.C. Survey
A type of survey used in parts of Texas that divides sections into smaller tracts labeled A, B, and C.
