Quick answer
The producing mines are three underground mines and nine surface mines.[1] They produced bituminous coal, and EIA places them in the Appalachia Central coal supply region.[1] Mines in the county produced 3,093,010 short tons in 2023, so output fell by about 5 percent in 2024.[1]
| Mine | Type | Coal rank | Short tons, 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republic Energy | Surface | Bituminous | 690,397 |
| Bishop Surface | Surface | Bituminous | 514,131 |
| Kingston No. 2 | Underground | Bituminous | 404,741 |
| Maple Eagle No. 1 Mine | Underground | Bituminous | 400,254 |
| Cv#2 Surface Mine | Surface | Bituminous | 399,883 |
| Sycamore Surface Mine | Surface | Bituminous | 226,761 |
| Shm-14 | Surface | Bituminous | 114,043 |
| Shm-75 | Surface | Bituminous | 99,182 |
| Shm-45 | Surface | Bituminous | 54,751 |
| Eagle Energy Mine No.1 | Underground | Bituminous | 22,172 |
| Turniphole Auger #1 | Surface | Bituminous | 6,031 |
| Bam 3 Auger | Surface | Bituminous | 1,127 |
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.
Fayette County, West Virginia had 12 producing coal mines in 2024, which produced 2,933,473 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 3,093,010 short tons in 2023, so output fell by about 5 percent in 2024.[1]
The mines that produced the most coal were Republic Energy (surface, 690,397 short tons), Bishop Surface (surface, 514,131 short tons), Kingston No. 2 (underground, 404,741 short tons) and Maple Eagle No. 1 Mine (underground, 400,254 short tons).[1] The next were Cv#2 Surface Mine (surface, 399,883 short tons), Sycamore Surface Mine (surface, 226,761 short tons), Shm-14 (surface, 114,043 short tons) and Shm-75 (surface, 99,182 short tons), plus four more in the table above.[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 three underground mines and nine 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 Kanawha County (2,939,869 short tons in 2024), Raleigh County (7,089,255 short tons in 2024), Boone County (2,952,857 short tons in 2024), Logan County (9,893,850 short tons in 2024) and Clay County (207,045 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 Fayette County, West Virginia
Mineral rights in West Virginia
Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Kanawha County
Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Raleigh County
Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Boone 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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