# Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Colorado

> Colorado: eight producing coal mines in five counties, 12,391,325 short tons in 2024. Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties.

- URL: https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/colorado
- Last updated: 2026-11-01
- Publisher: Buckhead Energy (https://www.buckheadenergy.com/)
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Quick answer

Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties. Colorado had eight producing coal mines in five counties in 2024, which together produced 12,391,325 short tons of coal, according to mine-level data in the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Annual Coal Report for 2024.

## Coal production by county in Colorado

Four of the mines are underground and four are surface mines, and they produced bituminous and subbituminous coal.^\[1\] Moffat County, Gunnison County and Rio Blanco County produced the most coal in Colorado in 2024.^\[1\]

| County | Mines | Underground / surface | Short tons, 2024 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Moffat County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/colorado/moffat) | 4 | 0 / 4 | 5,200,895 |
| [Gunnison County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/colorado/gunnison) | 1 | 1 / 0 | 3,705,019 |
| [Rio Blanco County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/colorado/rio-blanco) | 1 | 1 / 0 | 1,907,363 |
| [Routt County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/colorado/routt) | 1 | 1 / 0 | 995,706 |
| [La Plata County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/colorado/la-plata) | 1 | 1 / 0 | 582,342 |

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Annual Coal Report mine-level data for 2024, released November 19, 2025. Data compiled November 1, 2026.

## How coal is leased and paid

U.S. coal is mainly found in three regions: the Appalachian coal region, the Interior coal region and the Western coal region, which includes the Powder River Basin.^\[2\] Coal is classified into four main ranks: anthracite, bituminous, subbituminous and lignite.^\[3\] The coal leases in a 2020 West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals decision carried a tonnage royalty, a minimum annual royalty and a fixed term of years.^\[4\] Colorado is one of the 24 states with an approved coal regulatory program, so the state is the primary regulator of coal mining there and handles permitting, inspection and enforcement, with oversight from the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.^\[5\]

## Coal mining history in Colorado

Coal has been mined commercially in Colorado since 1864, and smaller amounts were mined as far back as 1859.^\[6\]

Colorado coal production expanded in the 1860s and 1870s with the demands of the Colorado Gold Rush.^\[6\]

Anthracite occurs in Gunnison and Pitkin counties, and lignite is found in the Denver Formation in the Denver Coal Region.^\[6\]

## Coal rights in Colorado

The Western coal region includes Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, Colorado and other states, and surface mines produce most of its coal.^\[2\]

Subbituminous coal came mostly from Wyoming, followed by Montana, New Mexico, Colorado and Alaska.^\[3\]

## What you sell and what you keep

What Buckhead buys depends on the deal, and Buckhead tells the seller up front which interest it is offering to buy — for example, the payments for the rest of the current lease term, a term easement, or a longer-term interest. The coal leases in a 2020 West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals decision carried a tonnage royalty, a minimum annual royalty and a fixed term of years.^\[4\] Coal rights can also be divided by seam: in one West Virginia case, the leases covered all the coal in all seams above a named seam on the leased tracts.^\[4\]

Educational information only — not legal, tax, or investment advice. The figures are public reference data, not a valuation or appraisal of any interest. Consult a qualified attorney, CPA, or landman about your specific situation.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much coal does Colorado produce, and where?

Colorado had eight producing coal mines in five counties in 2024, which together produced 12,391,325 short tons of coal, according to mine-level data in the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Annual Coal Report for 2024.^\[1\]

### Which Colorado counties have the most coal production?

By 2024 production, the leading counties are Moffat County (5,200,895 short tons), Gunnison County (3,705,019 short tons), Rio Blanco County (1,907,363 short tons), Routt County (995,706 short tons) and La Plata County (582,342 short tons).^\[1\]

### Can I sell coal mineral rights or coal royalties in Colorado?

Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties. What Buckhead buys depends on the deal, and Buckhead tells the seller up front which interest it is offering to buy — for example, the payments for the rest of the current lease term, a term easement, or a longer-term interest.

### Who regulates coal mining in Colorado?

Colorado is one of the 24 states with an approved coal regulatory program, so the state is the primary regulator of coal mining there and handles permitting, inspection and enforcement, with oversight from the federal Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement.^\[5\]

### What is the history of coal mining in Colorado?

Coal has been mined commercially in Colorado since 1864, and smaller amounts were mined as far back as 1859.^\[6\] Colorado coal production expanded in the 1860s and 1870s with the demands of the Colorado Gold Rush.^\[6\]

## Related pages

[Selling Coal Mineral Rights and Coal Royalties](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights)

[Mineral rights in Colorado](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/mineral-rights/colorado)

[Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Colorado](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/colorado)

[Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Colorado](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/colorado)

## Sources

\[1\] [Annual Coal Report, mine-level production (2024 data, released November 19, 2025)](https://www.eia.gov/coal/data.php) — U.S. Energy Information Administration (accessed November 1, 2026)

\[2\] [Coal explained: Where our coal comes from](https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/coal/where-our-coal-comes-from.php) — U.S. Energy Information Administration (accessed November 1, 2026)

\[3\] [Coal explained](https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/coal/) — U.S. Energy Information Administration (accessed November 1, 2026)

\[4\] [Iaeger Energy Development, LLC v. Moore, No. 18-0409 (memorandum decision, Jan. 13, 2020)](https://www.courtswv.gov/sites/default/pubfilesmnt/2023-12/18-0409memo.pdf) — Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia (accessed November 1, 2026)

\[5\] [Regulating Active Coal Mines](https://www.osmre.gov/programs/regulating-active-coal-mines) — Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (accessed November 1, 2026)

\[6\] [Coal](https://coloradogeologicalsurvey.org/energy/e-fossil/coal/) — Colorado Geological Survey (accessed November 2, 2026)

## Ready to Sell Your Coal Mineral Rights or Royalties?

Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties.

[Get a Free Written Offer](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/sell#inquiry:source=%2Fcoal-mineral-rights%2Fcolorado)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**What is the history of coal mining in Colorado?**
Coal has been mined commercially in Colorado since 1864, and smaller amounts were mined as far back as 1859. Colorado coal production expanded in the 1860s and 1870s with the demands of the Colorado Gold Rush.

## About Buckhead Energy
Buckhead Energy is a direct buyer, not a broker — we purchase mineral and royalty interests with our own capital. Buckhead Energy buys mineral and royalty interests across all 50 states and has completed acquisitions in 33 states. Buckhead Energy has been buying mineral and royalty interests since 2006. Buckhead Energy holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Buckhead provides a free written offer. Buckhead Energy typically provides an offer within 24–48 hours. Closings typically take 30–45 days, subject to title review and clearance. Buckhead Energy's written offers stay open for 14 days.

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