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Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Cambria County, Pennsylvania

Quick answer

Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties. Cambria County, Pennsylvania had six producing coal mines in 2024, which produced 1,099,917 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 Cambria County

The producing mines are two underground mines and four surface mines.[1] They produced bituminous coal, and EIA places them in the Appalachia Northern coal supply region.[1] Mines in the county produced 1,130,553 short tons in 2023, so output fell by about 3 percent in 2024.[1]

MineTypeCoal rankShort tons, 2024
CressonUndergroundBituminous484,902
Madison MineUndergroundBituminous336,360
Res CressonSurfaceBituminous164,876
Laurel Sand And Stone IncSurfaceBituminous70,572
Driscoll Hollow MineSurfaceBituminous32,538
89 JobSurfaceBituminous10,669

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 Cambria 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] 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]

Coal rights in Pennsylvania

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.[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]

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 Cambria County, Pennsylvania produce in 2024?

Cambria County, Pennsylvania had six producing coal mines in 2024, which produced 1,099,917 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 1,130,553 short tons in 2023, so output fell by about 3 percent in 2024.[1]

Which coal mines produced coal in Cambria County in 2024?

The mines were Cresson (underground, 484,902 short tons), Madison Mine (underground, 336,360 short tons), Res Cresson (surface, 164,876 short tons), Laurel Sand And Stone Inc (surface, 70,572 short tons), Driscoll Hollow Mine (surface, 32,538 short tons) and 89 Job (surface, 10,669 short tons).[1]

Can I sell coal mineral rights or coal royalties in Cambria 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 Cambria County surface or underground mines?

The producing mines are two underground mines and four 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 Pennsylvania?

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]

Which nearby Pennsylvania counties also have producing coal mines?

Nearby Pennsylvania counties with producing coal mines include Indiana County (2,101,608 short tons in 2024), Clearfield County (973,323 short tons in 2024), Somerset County (1,261,394 short tons in 2024), Fulton County (23,017 short tons in 2024) and Armstrong County (679,691 short tons in 2024).[1]

Related pages

Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Pennsylvania

Selling Coal Mineral Rights and Coal Royalties

Oil and gas mineral rights in Cambria County, Pennsylvania

Mineral rights in Pennsylvania

Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Cambria County

Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Cambria County

Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Indiana County

Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Clearfield County

Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Somerset County

Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Fulton County

Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Armstrong County

Sources

[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] Surface Owner Rights and Responsibilities Summary: Bituminous Mine Subsidence and Land Conservation Act — Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (accessed November 1, 2026)

[7] Coal explained: Where our coal comes from — U.S. Energy Information Administration (accessed November 1, 2026)

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