# Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in McDowell County, West Virginia > McDowell County, West Virginia: 26 producing coal mines, 2,211,500 short tons in 2024. Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties. - URL: https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/westvirginia/mcdowell - Last updated: 2026-11-01 - Publisher: Buckhead Energy (https://www.buckheadenergy.com/) - Format: full-content Markdown twin of the page (same content as the HTML; site navigation and footer removed) Breadcrumb: [Home](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/) › [Selling Coal Mineral Rights and Coal Royalties](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights) › [West Virginia](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/westvirginia) › McDowell County Quick answer Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties. McDowell County, West Virginia had 26 producing coal mines in 2024, which produced 2,211,500 short tons of coal, according to mine-level data in the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Annual Coal Report for 2024. ## Producing coal mines in McDowell County The producing mines are 13 underground mines and 13 surface mines.^\[1\] They produced bituminous coal, and EIA places them in the Appalachia Central coal supply region.^\[1\] Mines in the county produced 2,424,176 short tons in 2023, so output fell by about 9 percent in 2024.^\[1\] | Mine | Type | Coal rank | Short tons, 2024 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Berwind Deep Mine | Underground | Bituminous | 598,680 | | Dry Branch Surface Mine | Surface | Bituminous | 279,715 | | Mine No. 44 | Underground | Bituminous | 237,341 | | Eckman Surface Mine | Surface | Bituminous | 207,946 | | Laurel Fork Mine | Underground | Bituminous | 171,019 | | Mine No 2 | Underground | Bituminous | 121,926 | | Sewell Mine R | Underground | Bituminous | 91,502 | | Shm #67 | Surface | Bituminous | 69,746 | | Caretta #3 Mine | Underground | Bituminous | 62,792 | | Sewell Mine B | Underground | Bituminous | 58,051 | | Mine No. 32 | Underground | Bituminous | 45,769 | | No.32 | Surface | Bituminous | 44,831 | | Newhall Surface Mine No. 2 | Surface | Bituminous | 31,327 | | Triad No. 2 Deep Mine | Underground | Bituminous | 27,208 | | Skyway Iii Mine | Surface | Bituminous | 24,000 | | Shm-76 | Surface | Bituminous | 22,747 | | Newhall Surface Mine No. 3 | Surface | Bituminous | 22,457 | | Edm No. 1 Mine | Underground | Bituminous | 21,116 | | No 1 | Underground | Bituminous | 20,397 | | Mine No.1 | Underground | Bituminous | 18,522 | | Red Ash Mine No. 1 | Surface | Bituminous | 17,633 | | Bishop Impoundment Area | Surface | Bituminous | 7,475 | | Quarry No 2 | Surface | Bituminous | 4,596 | | Low Gap Surface Mine | Surface | Bituminous | 2,546 | | Bartley Surface Mine | Surface | Bituminous | 2,028 | 1 smaller mines are not listed. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Annual Coal Report mine-level data for 2024, released November 19, 2025. Data compiled November 1, 2026. ## What the data means for coal owners in McDowell County 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.^\[5\] ## Coal rights in West Virginia 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 you sell and what you keep 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. ## Frequently asked questions ### How much coal did McDowell County, West Virginia produce in 2024? McDowell County, West Virginia had 26 producing coal mines in 2024, which produced 2,211,500 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 2,424,176 short tons in 2023, so output fell by about 9 percent in 2024.^\[1\] ### Which coal mines produced coal in McDowell County in 2024? The mines that produced the most coal were Berwind Deep Mine (underground, 598,680 short tons), Dry Branch Surface Mine (surface, 279,715 short tons) and Mine No. 44 (underground, 237,341 short tons).^\[1\] The next were Eckman Surface Mine (surface, 207,946 short tons), Laurel Fork Mine (underground, 171,019 short tons), Mine No 2 (underground, 121,926 short tons) and Sewell Mine R (underground, 91,502 short tons).^\[1\] The next were Shm #67 (surface, 69,746 short tons), plus 17 more in the table above and one smaller ones the table does not list.^\[1\] ### Can I sell coal mineral rights or coal royalties in McDowell County? 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. ### Are the coal mines in McDowell County surface or underground mines? The producing mines are 13 underground mines and 13 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.^\[2\] ### Who regulates coal mining in West Virginia? 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.^\[5\] ### Which nearby West Virginia counties also have producing coal mines? Nearby West Virginia counties with producing coal mines include Mercer County (326,480 short tons in 2024), Wyoming County (6,672,098 short tons in 2024), Raleigh County (7,089,255 short tons in 2024), Mingo County (2,612,521 short tons in 2024) and Logan County (9,893,850 short tons in 2024).^\[1\] ## Related pages [Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in West Virginia](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/westvirginia) [Selling Coal Mineral Rights and Coal Royalties](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights) [Oil and gas mineral rights in McDowell County, West Virginia](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/mineral-rights/westvirginia/mc-dowell) [Mineral rights in West Virginia](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/mineral-rights/westvirginia) [Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Mercer County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/westvirginia/mercer) [Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Wyoming County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/westvirginia/wyoming) [Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Raleigh County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/westvirginia/raleigh) [Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Mingo County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/westvirginia/mingo) [Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Logan County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/westvirginia/logan) ## Sources \[1\] [Annual Coal Report, mine-level production (2024 data, released November 19, 2025)](https://www.eia.gov/coal/data.php) — U.S. Energy Information Administration (accessed November 1, 2026) \[2\] [Coal explained: Coal mining and transportation](https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/coal/mining-and-transportation.php) — U.S. Energy Information Administration (accessed November 1, 2026) \[3\] [Coal explained](https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/coal/) — U.S. Energy Information Administration (accessed November 1, 2026) \[4\] [Iaeger Energy Development, LLC v. Moore, No. 18-0409 (memorandum decision, Jan. 13, 2020)](https://www.courtswv.gov/sites/default/pubfilesmnt/2023-12/18-0409memo.pdf) — Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia (accessed November 1, 2026) \[5\] [Regulating Active Coal Mines](https://www.osmre.gov/programs/regulating-active-coal-mines) — Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (accessed November 1, 2026) \[6\] [Coal explained: Where our coal comes from](https://www.eia.gov/energyexplained/coal/where-our-coal-comes-from.php) — U.S. Energy Information Administration (accessed November 1, 2026) ## Ready to Sell Your Coal Mineral Rights or Royalties? Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties. [Get a Free Written Offer](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/sell#inquiry:source=%2Fcoal-mineral-rights%2Fwestvirginia%2Fmcdowell&county=McDowell+County) ## Frequently Asked Questions **Are the coal mines in McDowell County surface or underground mines?** The producing mines are 13 underground mines and 13 surface mines. Surface mining is often used when coal is less than 200 feet underground, and underground mining is used when coal lies deeper. ## About Buckhead Energy Buckhead Energy is a direct buyer, not a broker — we purchase mineral and royalty interests with our own capital. Buckhead Energy buys mineral and royalty interests across all 50 states and has completed acquisitions in 33 states. Buckhead Energy has been buying mineral and royalty interests since 2006. Buckhead Energy holds an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau. Buckhead provides a free written offer. Buckhead Energy typically provides an offer within 24–48 hours. Closings typically take 30–45 days, subject to title review and clearance. Buckhead Energy's written offers stay open for 14 days. **Sell mineral rights:** https://www.buckheadenergy.com/sell **Operator directory:** https://www.buckheadenergy.com/operators