Quick answer
Four of the mines are underground and 11 are surface mines, and they produced bituminous coal.[1] Gibson County, Sullivan County and Knox County produced the most coal in Indiana in 2024.[1]
| County | Mines | Underground / surface | Short tons, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gibson County | 2 | 2 / 0 | 7,413,728 |
| Sullivan County | 1 | 0 / 1 | 4,957,450 |
| Knox County | 3 | 2 / 1 | 3,981,742 |
| Warrick County | 4 | 0 / 4 | 2,652,100 |
| Pike County | 3 | 0 / 3 | 626,732 |
| Daviess County | 1 | 0 / 1 | 408,740 |
| Spencer County | 1 | 0 / 1 | 106,632 |
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] Indiana 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 in Indiana began in the early 1830s, and until 1850 all of it used surface methods.[6]
Underground mining in Indiana began in 1850, when the first underground mine shaft was completed in Warrick County.[6]
Since the 1830s, almost two billion tons of coal have been produced in Indiana.[7]
The Interior coal region includes Illinois, Indiana and western Kentucky among other states, and Illinois is its top producer.[2]
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.
Indiana had 15 producing coal mines in seven counties in 2024, which together produced 20,147,124 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 Gibson County (7,413,728 short tons), Sullivan County (4,957,450 short tons), Knox County (3,981,742 short tons), Warrick County (2,652,100 short tons) and Pike County (626,732 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.
Indiana 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]
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] The Coal Availability Study in Indiana: Glendale 7.5 Minute Quadrangle (Open-File Report 96-5) — Indiana Geological Survey (now Indiana Geological and Water Survey); hosted on IU ScholarWorks (accessed November 2, 2026)
[7] Coal in Indiana: A Geologic Overview (Special Report 60) — Indiana Geological Survey (now Indiana Geological and Water Survey); hosted on IU ScholarWorks (accessed November 2, 2026)
Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties.
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