# Coal Mineral Rights and Royalties in Wyoming

> Wyoming: 15 producing coal mines in four counties, 190,730,914 short tons in 2024. Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties.

- URL: https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/wyoming
- Last updated: 2026-11-01
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Quick answer

Buckhead Energy buys coal mineral rights and coal royalties. Wyoming had 15 producing coal mines in four counties in 2024, which together produced 190,730,914 short tons of coal, according to mine-level data in the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Annual Coal Report for 2024.

## Coal production by county in Wyoming

No of the mines are underground and 15 are surface mines, and they produced bituminous and subbituminous coal.^\[1\] Campbell County, Converse County and Sweetwater County produced the most coal in Wyoming in 2024.^\[1\]

| County | Mines | Underground / surface | Short tons, 2024 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Campbell County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/wyoming/campbell) | 11 | 0 / 11 | 170,044,887 |
| [Converse County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/wyoming/converse) | 1 | 0 / 1 | 14,984,446 |
| [Sweetwater County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/wyoming/sweetwater) | 2 | 0 / 2 | 3,284,299 |
| [Lincoln County](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights/wyoming/lincoln) | 1 | 0 / 1 | 2,417,282 |

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Annual Coal Report mine-level data for 2024, released November 19, 2025. Data compiled November 1, 2026.

## How coal is leased and paid

U.S. coal is mainly found in three regions: the Appalachian coal region, the Interior coal region and the Western coal region, which includes the Powder River Basin.^\[2\] Coal is classified into four main ranks: anthracite, bituminous, subbituminous and lignite.^\[3\] 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.^\[4\] Wyoming 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 mining history in Wyoming

Coal mining in Wyoming began in the mid-1860s, when the Union Pacific Railroad arrived.^\[6\]

Coal has been mined in the Hanna Basin since 1868; mines operated at Carbon until 1900, when mining moved to Hanna after the railroad was rerouted.^\[7\]

## Coal rights in Wyoming

Wyoming is the top coal-producing state, and the two largest U.S. coal mines, Black Thunder and North Antelope Rochelle, are both in Wyoming.^\[2\]

The Western coal region includes Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, Colorado and other states, and surface mines produce most of its coal.^\[2\]

Subbituminous coal came mostly from Wyoming, followed by Montana, New Mexico, Colorado and Alaska.^\[3\]

In the early 1900s Congress began letting the federal government keep mineral interests, starting with coal, when public lands were patented, while homesteading in the Powder River Basin was under way.^\[8\]

Federal coal produced from the Powder River Basin in Montana and Wyoming accounts for over 85 percent of all federal coal production.^\[8\]

## 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 does Wyoming produce, and where?

Wyoming had 15 producing coal mines in four counties in 2024, which together produced 190,730,914 short tons of coal, according to mine-level data in the U.S. Energy Information Administration's Annual Coal Report for 2024.^\[1\]

### Which Wyoming counties have the most coal production?

By 2024 production, the leading counties are Campbell County (170,044,887 short tons), Converse County (14,984,446 short tons), Sweetwater County (3,284,299 short tons) and Lincoln County (2,417,282 short tons).^\[1\]

### Can I sell coal mineral rights or coal royalties in Wyoming?

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.

### Who regulates coal mining in Wyoming?

Wyoming 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.^\[5\]

### What is the history of coal mining in Wyoming?

Coal mining in Wyoming began in the mid-1860s, when the Union Pacific Railroad arrived.^\[6\] Coal has been mined in the Hanna Basin since 1868; mines operated at Carbon until 1900, when mining moved to Hanna after the railroad was rerouted.^\[7\]

### Can coal rights be owned separately from the land in Wyoming?

In the early 1900s Congress began letting the federal government keep mineral interests, starting with coal, when public lands were patented, while homesteading in the Powder River Basin was under way.^\[8\] Federal coal produced from the Powder River Basin in Montana and Wyoming accounts for over 85 percent of all federal coal production.^\[8\]

### What does Wyoming law say about coal rights?

Wyoming is the top coal-producing state, and the two largest U.S. coal mines, Black Thunder and North Antelope Rochelle, are both in Wyoming.^\[2\]

## Related pages

[Selling Coal Mineral Rights and Coal Royalties](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/coal-mineral-rights)

[Mineral rights in Wyoming](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/mineral-rights/wyoming)

[Wind Royalties and Lease Payments in Wyoming](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/wind-royalties/wyoming)

[Solar Lease Payments and Royalties in Wyoming](https://www.buckheadenergy.com/solar-lease-royalties/wyoming)

## 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: 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)

\[3\] [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)

\[6\] [Wyoming: Profile Analysis](https://www.eia.gov/states/WY/analysis) — U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) (accessed November 2, 2026)

\[7\] [Hanna Basin](https://main.wsgs.wyo.gov/energy/oil-gas/oil-gas-basins/hanna-basin) — Wyoming State Geological Survey (accessed November 2, 2026)

\[8\] [Coal: Background](https://www.blm.gov/programs/energy-and-minerals/coal/background) — U.S. Bureau of Land Management (accessed November 2, 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%2Fwyoming)

## Frequently Asked Questions

**What is the history of coal mining in Wyoming?**
Coal mining in Wyoming began in the mid-1860s, when the Union Pacific Railroad arrived. Coal has been mined in the Hanna Basin since 1868; mines operated at Carbon until 1900, when mining moved to Hanna after the railroad was rerouted.

## 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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