How to Use the Map View
MinRight can display your mineral properties on an interactive map with boundaries drawn automatically based on the PLSS (Public Land Survey System) coordinates you enter.
How It Works
When you enter a property with a state, section, township, and range, MinRight looks up the boundaries from the BLM's national PLSS database and draws the polygon on the map. You don't need to enter coordinates manually. The section, township, and range are enough.
For a refresher on what those terms mean, see our Section, Township, and Range guide.
Viewing a Single Property on the Map
- Navigate to the property you want to see
- The property detail page shows a map with the property boundary drawn in blue
- You can zoom in and out, pan around, and see the property in context with surrounding terrain
The map uses OpenStreetMap tiles, so you see roads, cities, and geographic features alongside your property boundary.
Viewing All Properties on the Map
- Click Properties in the sidebar
- Switch to the Map View (look for the map icon)
- All properties with PLSS data are shown on a single map with their boundaries drawn
- Click a property boundary to navigate to its detail page
This gives you a bird's-eye view of your entire mineral portfolio. If you own interests across multiple counties or states, you can see how they're spread geographically.
What You Need to Enter
For the map to work, your property needs:
- State: which state the property is in
- Section: the section number (1-36)
- Township: the township number and direction (e.g., 12N)
- Range: the range number and direction (e.g., 3W)
If you also specify a quarter section (NE/4, SW/4, etc.), MinRight narrows the boundary to just that portion.
States That Support PLSS
The PLSS covers most states west of the original thirteen colonies. MinRight's map lookup works for 30 states that use the PLSS system. Notable exceptions:
- Texas uses abstracts and surveys instead of PLSS (except the panhandle)
- The original 13 colonies (Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, etc.) use metes and bounds
- Hawaii does not use PLSS
For properties in non-PLSS states, you can still enter the property and all other data. The map boundary just won't be drawn automatically.
Automatic Boundary Fetching
When you add a new property with PLSS data, MinRight automatically fetches the boundary the next time it's needed. If you have multiple properties without boundaries, MinRight will fetch them sequentially to avoid overloading the lookup service.
Once a boundary is fetched, it's cached locally so it loads instantly in the future.
Why the Map Matters
Seeing your properties on a map provides context that a list of legal descriptions doesn't. You can see:
- How close your properties are to each other
- Where they sit relative to towns, roads, and geographic features
- The shape and size of your sections
- How a pooled unit relates to your property
When a landman contacts you about leasing or when you're evaluating a sale offer, being able to pull up a map of exactly where your minerals are located puts you in a stronger position.