Quick answer
The producing mines are two underground mines and five surface mines.[1] They produced bituminous coal, and EIA places them in the Appalachia Central coal supply region.[1] Mines in the county produced 5,343,341 short tons in 2023, so output fell by about 5 percent in 2024.[1]
| Mine | Type | Coal rank | Short tons, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buchanan Mine #1 | Underground | Bituminous | 3,874,816 |
| Laurel Branch Surface | Surface | Bituminous | 430,047 |
| Paw Paw 2 South | Underground | Bituminous | 376,308 |
| Elk Creek Surface | Surface | Bituminous | 186,089 |
| Surface Mine No. 1 | Surface | Bituminous | 130,994 |
| #9 Miner | Surface | Bituminous | 87,900 |
| Auger 10 | Surface | Bituminous | 5,601 |
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] 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] 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]
The Appalachian coal region includes Alabama, eastern Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia, and underground mines supply most of its coal.[6]
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.
Buchanan County, Virginia had seven producing coal mines in 2024, which produced 5,091,755 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 5,343,341 short tons in 2023, so output fell by about 5 percent in 2024.[1]
The mines that produced the most coal were Buchanan Mine #1 (underground, 3,874,816 short tons), Laurel Branch Surface (surface, 430,047 short tons), Paw Paw 2 South (underground, 376,308 short tons), Elk Creek Surface (surface, 186,089 short tons) and Surface Mine No. 1 (surface, 130,994 short tons).[1] The next were #9 Miner (surface, 87,900 short tons) and Auger 10 (surface, 5,601 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.
The producing mines are two underground mines and five 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]
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]
Nearby Virginia counties and independent cities with producing coal mines include Tazewell County (671,994 short tons in 2024), Dickenson County (3,473,822 short tons in 2024), Russell County (106,124 short tons in 2024) and Wise County (406,163 short tons in 2024).[1]
Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Virginia
Selling Coal Mineral Rights and Coal Royalties
Oil and gas mineral rights in Buchanan County, Virginia
Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Tazewell County
Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Dickenson County
[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] 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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