# Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania

> Northumberland County, Pennsylvania: 10 producing coal mines, 405,348 short tons in 2024. Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties.

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

Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties. 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.

## Producing coal mines in Northumberland County

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.

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

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.^\[5\]

## 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 Northumberland County, Pennsylvania produce in 2024?

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.^\[1\]

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

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.^\[1\]

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

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.^\[2\]

### 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 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).^\[1\]

## Related pages

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

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

[Oil and gas mineral rights in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/mineral-rights/pennsylvania/northumberland)

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

[Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Northumberland County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/pennsylvania/northumberland)

[Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Columbia County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/pennsylvania/columbia)

[Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Dauphin County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/pennsylvania/dauphin)

[Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Schuylkill County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/pennsylvania/schuylkill)

[Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Carbon County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/pennsylvania/carbon)

[Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Luzerne County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/pennsylvania/luzerne)

## 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)

\[6\] [Surface Owner Rights and Responsibilities Summary: Bituminous Mine Subsidence and Land Conservation Act](https://greenport.pa.gov/elibrary/PDFProvider.ashx?action=PDFStream&docID=5671&chksum=&revision=2&docName=SURFACE+OWNER+RIGHTS+AND+RESPONSIBILITIES+UNDER+THE+BITUMINOUS+MINE+SUBSIDENCE+AND+LAND+CONSERVATION+ACT&nativeExt=pdf&PromptToSave=False&Size=153641&ViewerMode=2&overlay=0) — Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (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%2Fpennsylvania%2Fnorthumberland&county=Northumberland+County)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Are the coal mines in Northumberland County surface or underground mines?**
The producing mines are 10 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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