Quick answer
The producing mines are two underground mines and one surface mine.[1] They produced bituminous coal, and EIA places them in the Illinois Basin coal supply region.[1] Mines in the county produced 6,474,629 short tons in 2023, so output fell by about 39 percent in 2024.[1]
| Mine | Type | Coal rank | Short tons, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oaktown Fuels Mine No. 1 | Underground | Bituminous | 3,533,781 |
| Oaktown Fuels Mine No. 2 | Underground | Bituminous | 363,497 |
| Freelandville East | Surface | Bituminous | 84,464 |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Annual Coal Report mine-level data for 2024, released November 19, 2025. Data compiled November 1, 2026.
Surface mining is often used when coal is less than 200 feet underground, and underground mining is used when coal lies deeper.[2] Bituminous coal is the most abundant rank found in the United States, and lignite has the lowest energy content.[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]
The Interior coal region includes Illinois, Indiana and western Kentucky among other states, and Illinois is its top producer.[6]
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.
Knox County, Indiana had three producing coal mines in 2024, which produced 3,981,742 short tons of coal, according to mine-level data in the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Annual Coal Report for 2024.[1] Mines in the county produced 6,474,629 short tons in 2023, so output fell by about 39 percent in 2024.[1]
The mines were Oaktown Fuels Mine No. 1 (underground, 3,533,781 short tons), Oaktown Fuels Mine No. 2 (underground, 363,497 short tons) and Freelandville East (surface, 84,464 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.
The producing mines are two underground mines and one surface mine.[1] Surface mining is often used when coal is less than 200 feet underground, and underground mining is used when coal lies deeper.[2]
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]
Nearby Indiana counties with producing coal mines include Sullivan County (4,957,450 short tons in 2024), Daviess County (408,740 short tons in 2024), Pike County (626,732 short tons in 2024), Gibson County (7,413,728 short tons in 2024) and Warrick County (2,652,100 short tons in 2024).[1]
Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Indiana
Selling Coal Mineral Rights and Coal Royalties
Oil and gas mineral rights in Knox County, Indiana
Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Sullivan County
Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Daviess County
Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Pike County
[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: Coal mining and transportation — 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] Coal explained: Where our coal comes from — U.S. Energy Information Administration (accessed November 1, 2026)
Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties.
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