Quick answer
28 of the mines are underground and 82 are surface mines, and they produced anthracite and bituminous coal.[1] Greene County, Washington County and Indiana County produced the most coal in Pennsylvania in 2024.[1]
| County | Mines | Underground / surface | Short tons, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Greene County | 3 | 3 / 0 | 21,658,896 |
| Washington County | 1 | 1 / 0 | 9,181,023 |
| Indiana County | 10 | 7 / 3 | 2,101,608 |
| Schuylkill County | 19 | 3 / 16 | 1,726,677 |
| Somerset County | 17 | 4 / 13 | 1,261,394 |
| Cambria County | 6 | 2 / 4 | 1,099,917 |
| Clearfield County | 18 | 3 / 15 | 973,323 |
| Armstrong County | 3 | 2 / 1 | 679,691 |
| Westmoreland County | 4 | 1 / 3 | 469,820 |
| Northumberland County | 10 | 0 / 10 | 405,348 |
| Luzerne County | 7 | 0 / 7 | 389,448 |
| Carbon County | 1 | 0 / 1 | 318,818 |
| Jefferson County | 2 | 1 / 1 | 131,337 |
| Columbia County | 1 | 0 / 1 | 102,268 |
| Lycoming County | 1 | 0 / 1 | 33,000 |
| Fulton County | 1 | 0 / 1 | 23,017 |
| Mercer County | 1 | 0 / 1 | 12,574 |
| Fayette County | 1 | 0 / 1 | 11,747 |
| Dauphin County | 1 | 1 / 0 | 10,024 |
| Lackawanna County | 1 | 0 / 1 | 5,305 |
| Clarion County | 2 | 0 / 2 | 1,328 |
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] Pennsylvania 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 earliest record of coal mining in Pennsylvania is a 1761 plan of Fort Pitt, and anthracite was first used in a Wilkes-Barre blacksmith shop in 1769.[6]
Bituminous coal was first mined in Pennsylvania at Coal Hill, now Mount Washington, across the Monongahela River from Pittsburgh.[7]
Before 2005, more than 20 billion tons of bituminous coal and almost 11 billion tons of anthracite had been mined in Pennsylvania or left unrecoverable in the pillars that support mine roofs.[6]
Anthracite generally has the highest heating value of the ranks, and all U.S. anthracite mines are in northeastern Pennsylvania.[3]
Pennsylvania's Bituminous Mine Subsidence and Land Conservation Act requires an underground mine operator who affects a public or private water supply to restore or replace it.[8]
The Appalachian coal region includes Alabama, eastern Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, and underground mines supply most of its coal.[2]
Pennsylvania laws passed in 1966 made bituminous underground coal mine operators liable for subsidence damage to certain dwellings and structures; before 1966 they were not liable.[9]
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.
Pennsylvania had 110 producing coal mines in 21 counties in 2024, which together produced 40,596,563 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 Greene County (21,658,896 short tons), Washington County (9,181,023 short tons), Indiana County (2,101,608 short tons), Schuylkill County (1,726,677 short tons) and Somerset County (1,261,394 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.
Pennsylvania 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 earliest record of coal mining in Pennsylvania is a 1761 plan of Fort Pitt, and anthracite was first used in a Wilkes-Barre blacksmith shop in 1769.[6] Bituminous coal was first mined in Pennsylvania at Coal Hill, now Mount Washington, across the Monongahela River from Pittsburgh.[7]
Pennsylvania laws passed in 1966 made bituminous underground coal mine operators liable for subsidence damage to certain dwellings and structures; before 1966 they were not liable.[9]
Anthracite generally has the highest heating value of the ranks, and all U.S. anthracite mines are in northeastern Pennsylvania.[3] Pennsylvania's Bituminous Mine Subsidence and Land Conservation Act requires an underground mine operator who affects a public or private water supply to restore or replace it.[8]
Selling Coal Mineral Rights and Coal Royalties
Mineral rights in Pennsylvania
[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] Coal in Pennsylvania (Educational Series 7) — Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Topographic and Geologic Survey (accessed November 2, 2026)
[7] PA Mining History — Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (accessed November 2, 2026)
[8] Surface Owner Rights and Responsibilities Summary: Bituminous Mine Subsidence and Land Conservation Act — Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (accessed November 1, 2026)
[9] Underground Mining (Mine Subsidence Insurance information brochure) — Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (accessed November 2, 2026)
Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties.
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