Quick answer
The producing mines are one underground mine and two surface mines.[1] They produced bituminous coal, and EIA places them in the Appalachia Central coal supply region.[1] Mines in the county produced 69,141 short tons in 2023, so output rose by about 199 percent in 2024.[1]
| Mine | Type | Coal rank | Short tons, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fola Surface Mine No 2 | Surface | Bituminous | 78,132 |
| Little Eagle Mine No 1 | Underground | Bituminous | 66,357 |
| Shm 06 Highwall Miner | Surface | Bituminous | 62,556 |
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] West 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]
West Virginia is the top coal-producing state in the Appalachian region and the second-highest producer in the United States.[6]
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]
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.
Clay County, West Virginia had three producing coal mines in 2024, which produced 207,045 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 69,141 short tons in 2023, so output rose by about 199 percent in 2024.[1]
The mines were Fola Surface Mine No 2 (surface, 78,132 short tons), Little Eagle Mine No 1 (underground, 66,357 short tons) and Shm 06 Highwall Miner (surface, 62,556 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 one underground mine and two 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]
West 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 West Virginia counties with producing coal mines include Nicholas County (1,350,210 short tons in 2024), Fayette County (2,933,473 short tons in 2024), Kanawha County (2,939,869 short tons in 2024), Greenbrier County (105,503 short tons in 2024) and Boone County (2,952,857 short tons in 2024).[1]
Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in West Virginia
Selling Coal Mineral Rights and Coal Royalties
Oil and gas mineral rights in Clay County, West Virginia
Mineral rights in West Virginia
Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Nicholas County
Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Fayette County
Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Kanawha 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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