# Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Nicholas County, West Virginia

> Nicholas County, West Virginia: six producing coal mines, 1,350,210 short tons in 2024. Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties.

- URL: https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/westvirginia/nicholas
- Last updated: 2026-11-01
- Publisher: Buckhead Energy (https://www.buckheadenergy.com/)
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Quick answer

Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties. Nicholas County, West Virginia had six producing coal mines in 2024, which produced 1,350,210 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 Nicholas County

The producing mines are two underground mines and four surface mines.^\[1\] They produced bituminous coal, and EIA places them in the Appalachia Central coal supply region.^\[1\] Mines in the county produced 1,121,673 short tons in 2023, so output rose by about 20 percent in 2024.^\[1\]

| Mine | Type | Coal rank | Short tons, 2024 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Jerry Fork Eagle | Underground | Bituminous | 663,220 |
| Rolling Thunder Mine | Underground | Bituminous | 427,100 |
| Hwm 58 | Surface | Bituminous | 240,934 |
| Bam 7 Auger | Surface | Bituminous | 11,102 |
| Cv30 | Surface | Bituminous | 7,179 |
| Peerless No. 1 Surface Mine | Surface | Bituminous | 675 |

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 Nicholas 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 Nicholas County, West Virginia produce in 2024?

Nicholas County, West Virginia had six producing coal mines in 2024, which produced 1,350,210 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 1,121,673 short tons in 2023, so output rose by about 20 percent in 2024.^\[1\]

### Which coal mines produced coal in Nicholas County in 2024?

The mines were Jerry Fork Eagle (underground, 663,220 short tons), Rolling Thunder Mine (underground, 427,100 short tons), Hwm 58 (surface, 240,934 short tons), Bam 7 Auger (surface, 11,102 short tons), Cv30 (surface, 7,179 short tons) and Peerless No. 1 Surface Mine (surface, 675 short tons).^\[1\]

### Can I sell coal mineral rights or coal royalties in Nicholas 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 Nicholas County surface or underground mines?

The producing mines are two underground mines and four 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 Clay County (207,045 short tons in 2024), Greenbrier County (105,503 short tons in 2024), Fayette County (2,933,473 short tons in 2024), Kanawha County (2,939,869 short tons in 2024) and Boone County (2,952,857 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 Nicholas County, West Virginia](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/mineral-rights/westvirginia/nicholas)

[Mineral rights in West Virginia](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/mineral-rights/westvirginia)

[Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Clay County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/westvirginia/clay)

[Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Greenbrier County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/westvirginia/greenbrier)

[Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Fayette County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/westvirginia/fayette)

[Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Kanawha County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/westvirginia/kanawha)

[Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Boone County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/westvirginia/boone)

## 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%2Fnicholas&county=Nicholas+County)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Are the coal mines in Nicholas County surface or underground mines?**
The producing mines are two underground mines and four 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.

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