Quick answer
No of the mines are underground and three are surface mines, and they produced lignite coal.[1] Limestone County, Robertson County and Atascosa County produced the most coal in Texas in 2024.[1]
| County | Mines | Underground / surface | Short tons, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Limestone County | 1 | 0 / 1 | 8,916,988 |
| Robertson County | 1 | 0 / 1 | 1,783,404 |
| Atascosa County | 1 | 0 / 1 | 1,596,122 |
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] Texas 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 first account of coal mining in Texas describes an unnamed lignite mine near the Sabine River in 1819.[6]
Historical coal mining in Texas took place in 40 counties, and surface strip mining has been the only means of extracting lignite since 1951.[6]
Underground mines produced most of the coal in Texas before the mid-1950s; those mines closed decades ago, and four surface mines now produce all of the state's coal.[7]
Lignite was produced in five states in 2022, led by North Dakota and Texas, with smaller amounts from Mississippi, Louisiana and Montana.[3]
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.
Texas had three producing coal mines in three counties in 2024, which together produced 12,296,514 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 Limestone County (8,916,988 short tons), Robertson County (1,783,404 short tons) and Atascosa County (1,596,122 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.
Texas 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]
Selling Coal Mineral Rights and Coal Royalties
[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] Historical Coal Mining in Texas — Railroad Commission of Texas, Surface Mining (accessed November 2, 2026)
[7] Texas: Profile Analysis — U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) (accessed November 2, 2026)
Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties.
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