Interactive US Coal Mines Map: Surface and Underground Mines by Production
This interactive map displays all operating coal mines across the United States, using data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Each point represents an active surface or underground coal mine, sized by total annual production in short tons. Use the filters to explore mines by type or by the three major U.S. coal regions: Appalachian, Interior, and Western.
Explore US Coal Mines
Filter by mine type or coal region, then click any point for details including mine name, state, production volume, and reporting period.
How to Use This Map
Getting Started
The map loads all operating surface and underground coal mines in the US. Larger circles indicate higher production volumes. Zoom in to explore individual mines, or use the filter buttons above the map to narrow your view.
Filters and Controls
Use the Mine Type buttons to show only surface mines (orange) or underground mines (blue), or keep the default to see all mines. Use the Region buttons to focus on one of the three major US coal regions. The mine count above the map updates automatically to reflect the current filter.
Share This View
The map URL updates automatically as you pan and zoom, so you can copy and share any specific view directly from your browser address bar.
US Coal Regions
Coal in the United States is concentrated in three geographic regions, each with distinct geology and dominant mine types.
- Appalachian Coal Region — Covers Alabama, Kentucky, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia. This historically productive region contains a mix of underground and surface mines, with steep terrain shaping methods such as mountaintop removal and drift mining.
- Interior Coal Region — Includes Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, and Texas. Illinois Basin mines are among the largest underground operations in this region.
- Western Coal Region — Encompasses Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming. The Powder River Basin in Wyoming and Montana is the highest-volume coal-producing area in the US, dominated by large surface mines extracting low-sulfur coal.
Surface vs Underground Mining
The extraction method used at each mine depends on how deep the coal seam lies and the economics of reaching it.
- Surface mines remove overlying rock and soil to expose coal seams near the surface. Methods include strip mining, open-pit mining, and mountaintop removal. Surface operations typically achieve higher production efficiency for shallow deposits.
- Underground mines reach coal through shafts or tunnels driven into hillsides or straight down. Common methods include room-and-pillar and longwall mining. Underground operations are used when coal deposits are too deep for surface extraction to be economical or practical.
Data Sources and Limitations
This map uses the EIA Surface and Underground Coal Mines feature service, maintained by Esri in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy. The dataset reflects currently operating mines and is checked monthly against its federal source. Production figures are in short tons for the most recent available reporting period (2023).
The dataset includes only operating mines. Closed, idled, or reclaimed sites are not shown. The Appalachian region filter on this map uses state-level boundaries; the EIA formally distinguishes Eastern and Western Kentucky separately, but this map applies a simplified state-level grouping.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is most US coal mined?
Wyoming produces the largest share of US coal by volume, accounting for roughly 40% of national output, almost entirely from large surface mines in the Powder River Basin. West Virginia and Pennsylvania lead in underground coal production.
What is the difference between surface and underground coal mines?
Surface mines extract coal from seams close to the surface by removing overlying material. Underground mines access deeper seams via shafts and tunnels. The method depends on seam depth and the cost-effectiveness of extraction at that depth.
How many coal mines operate in the US?
According to EIA data, several hundred coal mines currently operate in the US. The total number has declined substantially over recent decades as natural gas and renewable energy have displaced coal in electricity generation.
What does production in short tons mean?
A short ton equals 2,000 pounds (approximately 907 kilograms). US coal statistics are reported in short tons by convention. Circle size on this map scales logarithmically with production, keeping very large mines visible without overwhelming smaller operations.
What is the EIA?
The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) is a federal statistical agency within the Department of Energy. It collects and publishes independent energy data to support policymaking, efficient markets, and public understanding of energy systems.
