Quick answer
The producing mines are 10 surface mines.[1] They produced anthracite coal, and EIA places them in the Appalachia Northern coal supply region.[1] Mines in the county produced 332,672 short tons in 2023, so output rose by about 22 percent in 2024.[1]
| Mine | Type | Coal rank | Short tons, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Spring Energy | Surface | Anthracite | 114,570 |
| West End | Surface | Anthracite | 112,132 |
| New Summit | Surface | Anthracite | 78,670 |
| Trevorton Strip | Surface | Anthracite | 49,384 |
| Locust Summit Strip Mine | Surface | Anthracite | 13,134 |
| Mustang Stripping | Surface | Anthracite | 12,876 |
| Crystal Strip | Surface | Anthracite | 10,089 |
| Zerbe 10 Mine | Surface | Anthracite | 5,514 |
| Big Mountain Anthracite #1 Pit | Surface | Anthracite | 5,320 |
| Blue Ridge Mining L.P. | Surface | Anthracite | 3,659 |
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] Anthracite generally has the highest heating value of the ranks, and all U.S. anthracite mines are in northeastern Pennsylvania.[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]
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 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.
Northumberland County, Pennsylvania had 10 producing coal mines in 2024, which produced 405,348 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 332,672 short tons in 2023, so output rose by about 22 percent in 2024.[1]
The mines that produced the most coal were West Spring Energy (surface, 114,570 short tons), West End (surface, 112,132 short tons), New Summit (surface, 78,670 short tons), Trevorton Strip (surface, 49,384 short tons) and Locust Summit Strip Mine (surface, 13,134 short tons).[1] The next were Mustang Stripping (surface, 12,876 short tons), Crystal Strip (surface, 10,089 short tons) and Zerbe 10 Mine (surface, 5,514 short tons), plus two more in the table above.[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 10 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]
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]
Nearby Pennsylvania counties with producing coal mines include Columbia County (102,268 short tons in 2024), Dauphin County (10,024 short tons in 2024), Schuylkill County (1,726,677 short tons in 2024), Carbon County (318,818 short tons in 2024) and Luzerne County (389,448 short tons in 2024).[1]
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[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)
Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties.
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