Quick answer
Eight of the mines are underground and three are surface mines, and they produced bituminous coal.[1] Washington County, Williamson County and Franklin County produced the most coal in Illinois in 2024.[1]
| County | Mines | Underground / surface | Short tons, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington County | 1 | 1 / 0 | 6,817,740 |
| Williamson County | 1 | 1 / 0 | 6,413,674 |
| Franklin County | 1 | 1 / 0 | 6,216,015 |
| Hamilton County | 1 | 1 / 0 | 4,773,185 |
| Perry County | 2 | 1 / 1 | 4,609,656 |
| Montgomery County | 1 | 1 / 0 | 2,817,637 |
| Randolph County | 1 | 1 / 0 | 2,132,415 |
| Sangamon County | 1 | 1 / 0 | 246,266 |
| Wabash County | 1 | 0 / 1 | 194,483 |
| Saline County | 1 | 0 / 1 | 9,236 |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Annual Coal Report mine-level data for 2024, released November 19, 2025. Data compiled November 1, 2026.
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] Illinois 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]
The number of underground coal mines in Illinois has been estimated at 5,500.[6]
Illinois passed the Mine Subsidence Insurance Act in 1979 to provide subsidence insurance for homeowners in mining areas.[6]
The Interior coal region includes Illinois, Indiana and western Kentucky among other states, and Illinois is its top producer.[2]
Where the private mineral estate has been severed from the surface, an Illinois surface coal mining application must include the surface owner's written consent, a conveyance that expressly grants or reserves the right to surface mine the coal, or a determination of the surface-subsurface relationship under state law.[7]
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.
Illinois had 11 producing coal mines in 10 counties in 2024, which together produced 34,230,307 short tons of coal, according to mine-level data in the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Annual Coal Report for 2024.[1]
By 2024 production, the leading counties are Washington County (6,817,740 short tons), Williamson County (6,413,674 short tons), Franklin County (6,216,015 short tons), Hamilton County (4,773,185 short tons) and Perry County (4,609,656 short tons).[1]
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.
Illinois 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]
The number of underground coal mines in Illinois has been estimated at 5,500.[6] Illinois passed the Mine Subsidence Insurance Act in 1979 to provide subsidence insurance for homeowners in mining areas.[6]
Where the private mineral estate has been severed from the surface, an Illinois surface coal mining application must include the surface owner's written consent, a conveyance that expressly grants or reserves the right to surface mine the coal, or a determination of the surface-subsurface relationship under state law.[7]
Selling Coal Mineral Rights and Coal Royalties
[1] Annual Coal Report, mine-level production (2024 data, released November 19, 2025) — U.S. Energy Information Administration (accessed November 1, 2026)
[2] Coal explained: Where our coal comes from — U.S. Energy Information Administration (accessed November 1, 2026)
[3] Coal explained — U.S. Energy Information Administration (accessed November 1, 2026)
[4] Iaeger Energy Development, LLC v. Moore, No. 18-0409 (memorandum decision, Jan. 13, 2020) — Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia (accessed November 1, 2026)
[5] Regulating Active Coal Mines — Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (accessed November 1, 2026)
[6] Mine Subsidence in Illinois: Facts for Homeowners (Circular 569) — Illinois State Geological Survey, Prairie Research Institute (accessed November 2, 2026)
[7] Surface Coal Mining Land Conservation and Reclamation Act (225 ILCS 720), Sec. 2.02(c) — Illinois General Assembly (accessed November 2, 2026)
Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties.
Get a Free Written Offer