Quick answer
Nine of the mines are underground and 27 are surface mines, and they produced bituminous coal.[1] Buchanan County, Dickenson County and Tazewell County produced the most coal in Virginia in 2024.[1]
| County or city | Mines | Underground / surface | Short tons, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buchanan County | 7 | 2 / 5 | 5,091,755 |
| Dickenson County | 8 | 3 / 5 | 3,473,822 |
| Tazewell County | 7 | 1 / 6 | 671,994 |
| Wise County | 11 | 3 / 8 | 406,163 |
| Russell County | 3 | 0 / 3 | 106,124 |
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] Virginia 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 was discovered in Virginia's Chesterfield County as early as 1701, and by 1730 it was mined for commercial use.[6]
From 1748 to 1904, coal was mined nearly continuously in Virginia's Eastern Coalfields, mainly from the Richmond basin.[6]
Virginia's coal occurs in three main regions: the Southwest Virginia Coalfield, the Valley Coalfields and the Eastern Coalfields.[7]
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]
In Virginia, ownership of the surface, the minerals and the coal can be severed, so different people may own each; ownership is found in the deeds or leases for the property.[8]
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.
Virginia had 36 producing coal mines in five counties and independent cities in 2024, which together produced 9,749,858 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 and independent cities are Buchanan County (5,091,755 short tons), Dickenson County (3,473,822 short tons), Tazewell County (671,994 short tons), Wise County (406,163 short tons) and Russell County (106,124 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.
Virginia 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 was discovered in Virginia's Chesterfield County as early as 1701, and by 1730 it was mined for commercial use.[6] From 1748 to 1904, coal was mined nearly continuously in Virginia's Eastern Coalfields, mainly from the Richmond basin.[6]
In Virginia, ownership of the surface, the minerals and the coal can be severed, so different people may own each; ownership is found in the deeds or leases for the property.[8]
[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] Mid-Lothian Mines Park: the birthplace of Virginia's coal mining history — Virginia Department of Energy (accessed November 2, 2026)
[7] Geology and Mineral Resources - Coal — Virginia Department of Energy (accessed November 2, 2026)
[8] Owner Rights (Gas and Oil) — Virginia Department of Energy (accessed November 2, 2026)
Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties.
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