# Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Whitley County, Kentucky

> Whitley County, Kentucky: six producing coal mines, 563,895 short tons in 2024. Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties.

- URL: https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/kentucky/whitley
- Last updated: 2026-11-01
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Quick answer

Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties. Whitley County, Kentucky had six producing coal mines in 2024, which produced 563,895 short tons of coal, according to mine-level data in the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Annual Coal Report for 2024.

## Producing coal mines in Whitley County

The producing mines are one underground mine and five surface mines.^\[1\] They produced bituminous coal, and EIA places them in the Appalachia Central coal supply region.^\[1\] Mines in the county produced 397,905 short tons in 2023, so output rose by about 42 percent in 2024.^\[1\]

| Mine | Type | Coal rank | Short tons, 2024 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Shm 10 | Surface | Bituminous | 196,776 |
| Chm 48 | Surface | Bituminous | 154,016 |
| Shm 1 | Surface | Bituminous | 134,711 |
| Mosley Gap Mine | Surface | Bituminous | 49,368 |
| Hubbs Hollow Mine | Surface | Bituminous | 21,508 |
| Alden Resources Harps Creek | Underground | Bituminous | 7,516 |

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

## What the data means for coal owners in Whitley County

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.^\[4\] Kentucky 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 rights in Kentucky

Kentucky's Constitution distinguishes instruments that sever the surface and mineral estates, instruments that grant a mineral estate, and instruments that grant a right to extract minerals.^\[6\]

Under Kentucky's Constitution, a severance instrument that does not state the method of coal extraction is read, absent clear and convincing evidence otherwise, to allow only the methods commonly in use in the area when it was signed.^\[6\]

The Appalachian coal region includes Alabama, eastern Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, and underground mines supply most of its coal.^\[7\]

The Interior coal region includes Illinois, Indiana and western Kentucky among other states, and Illinois is its top producer.^\[7\]

## 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 did Whitley County, Kentucky produce in 2024?

Whitley County, Kentucky had six producing coal mines in 2024, which produced 563,895 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 397,905 short tons in 2023, so output rose by about 42 percent in 2024.^\[1\]

### Which coal mines produced coal in Whitley County in 2024?

The mines were Shm 10 (surface, 196,776 short tons), Chm 48 (surface, 154,016 short tons), Shm 1 (surface, 134,711 short tons), Mosley Gap Mine (surface, 49,368 short tons), Hubbs Hollow Mine (surface, 21,508 short tons) and Alden Resources Harps Creek (underground, 7,516 short tons).^\[1\]

### Can I sell coal mineral rights or coal royalties in Whitley County?

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.

### Are the coal mines in Whitley County surface or underground mines?

The producing mines are one underground mine and five surface mines.^\[1\] Surface mining is often used when coal is less than 200 feet underground, and underground mining is used when coal lies deeper.^\[2\]

### Who regulates coal mining in Kentucky?

Kentucky 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.^\[5\]

### Which nearby Kentucky counties also have producing coal mines?

Nearby Kentucky counties with producing coal mines include Knox County (10,971 short tons in 2024), Bell County (278,846 short tons in 2024), Leslie County (565,831 short tons in 2024), Harlan County (2,350,532 short tons in 2024) and Clay County (9,387 short tons in 2024).^\[1\]

## Related pages

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

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

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

[Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Knox County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/kentucky/knox)

[Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Bell County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/kentucky/bell)

[Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Leslie County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/kentucky/leslie)

[Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Harlan County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/kentucky/harlan)

[Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Clay County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/kentucky/clay)

## 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: Coal mining and transportation](https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/coal/mining-and-transportation.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)

\[6\] [Constitution of Kentucky, Section 19](https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/constitution/Constitution/ViewConstitution?rsn=21) — Kentucky General Assembly, Legislative Research Commission (accessed November 1, 2026)

\[7\] [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)

## 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%2Fkentucky%2Fwhitley&county=Whitley+County)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Are the coal mines in Whitley County surface or underground mines?**
The producing mines are one underground mine and five surface mines. Surface mining is often used when coal is less than 200 feet underground, and underground mining is used when coal lies deeper.

## 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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