How many abandoned mines are in Elliott County, Kentucky?

Abandoned mine inventory

Abandoned mines in Elliott County, Kentucky

Elliott County, Kentucky has 56 mine and prospect features on USGS topographic maps published 1950–1979, including 14 mine openings (shafts, adits and air shafts). OSMRE's abandoned mine land inventory lists 18 problems in the county, 12 of them not yet reclaimed. MSHA's register carries 84 mines in the county with status Abandoned or Abandoned and Sealed.

Every mine and prospect feature the USGS digitized from historical topographic maps covering Elliott County, every OSMRE abandoned mine land problem in the county, and every MSHA-registered mine here with status Abandoned. Named features are listed below; unnamed ones are counted by type. Locations are deliberately not shown: this page says what abandoned workings are in the county, not where to find them. They are dangerous and should not be entered.

Mapped mine features (USGS): 56
Mine openings: 14
OSMRE problems unreclaimed: 12
MSHA mines marked abandoned: 84

0 features carry a name0 prospect pits5 quadrangle maps, published 1950–1979 18 OSMRE problems, 6 reclaimed 7 MSHA mines abandoned and sealed

What the features are

Mine openings

shafts, adits, air shafts, portals and vertical openings: the ways into underground workings

14 18.9%
Mines and surface workings

labelled mines, open pits, strip mines, placer and hydraulic workings

42 56.8%
Dumps, tailings, spoil and gob

what mining left above ground

4 5.4%
Other reclamation problems

highwalls, subsidence, polluted or clogged water, fires, slides and gases in OSMRE's inventory

14 18.9%

OSMRE abandoned mine land problems18 on inventory

Problem area	Problem	Program	Status
Butcher Br.-ettiott Co.	P3 Bench	Pre-SMCRA Coal State/Tribe Program (P3 only)	Reclamation Pending
Butcher Br.-ettiott Co.	P3 Spoil Area	Pre-SMCRA Coal State/Tribe Program (P3 only)	Reclamation Pending
Elliott County EOC & 911 Center AML	P3 Other	AMLER	In Reclamation
Greasy Ridge-ashland Bf	P3 Bench	Pre-SMCRA Coal State/Tribe Program (P3 only)	Reclamation Completed
Greasy Ridge-ashland Bf	P3 Spoil Area	Pre-SMCRA Coal State/Tribe Program (P3 only)	Reclamation Completed
Isonville-s.s.c. Min	P3 Bench	Pre-SMCRA Coal State/Tribe Program (P3 only)	Reclamation Pending
Isonville-s.s.c. Min	P3 Spoil Area	Pre-SMCRA Coal State/Tribe Program (P3 only)	Reclamation Pending
Mary Blair Pond	P1 Dangerous Impoundments	Pre-SMCRA Coal State/Tribe Program (P1, P2, P3)	Reclamation Completed
Redwine Cr.-elliott	P2 Clogged Stream Lands	Pre-SMCRA Coal State/Tribe Program (P1, P2, P3)	Reclamation Pending
Redwine Cr.-elliott	P2 Dangerous Impoundments	Pre-SMCRA Coal State/Tribe Program (P1, P2, P3)	Reclamation Pending
Redwine Creek Ponds	P2 Dangerous Impoundments	Pre-SMCRA Coal State/Tribe Program (P1, P2, P3)	Reclamation Pending
Roger Gilliam Dam	P2 Clogged Stream Lands	Coal Interim Site Funding	Reclamation Pending
Roger Gilliam Site	P2 Dangerous Highwalls	Rural Abandoned Mine Program	Reclamation Pending
Roger Gilliam Site	P2 Dangerous Impoundments	Rural Abandoned Mine Program	Reclamation Pending
Roger Gilliam Site	P2 Dangerous Slides	Rural Abandoned Mine Program	Reclamation Pending
Wells Creek Mine	P3 Bench	Pre-SMCRA Coal State/Tribe Program (P3 only)	Reclamation Completed
Wells Creek Mine	P3 Other	Pre-SMCRA Coal State/Tribe Program (P3 only)	Reclamation Completed
Wells Creek Mine	P3 Spoil Area	Pre-SMCRA Coal State/Tribe Program (P3 only)	Reclamation Completed

Problem types carry OSMRE's priority prefix: P1 and P2 are threats to health, safety and property, P3 is environmental. A problem area is a cluster of problems reclaimed as one project; several rows can share one location.

MSHA-registered mines with status Abandoned84 on register

#1 Surface
Surface coal · Sand Bar Mining Inc · MSHA ID 1511664

Abandoned 1986-04-01
#1 Surface
Surface coal · Fontana Minerals · MSHA ID 1516968

Abandoned 1992-05-05
Action Mine No 2 Surface
Surface coal · Action Excavating Inc · MSHA ID 1512644

Abandoned 1984-01-04
Brier Fork Surface
Surface coal · Addington Brothers Mining Inc · MSHA ID 1508151

Abandoned 1981-09-15
Bruin Mine
Surface coal · Black Hills Mining Inc · MSHA ID 1514451

Abandoned 1984-06-30
Central Shop
Facility coal · Placer Coal Inc · MSHA ID 1511973

Abandoned 1983-04-15
Cirque No 3 Surface
Surface coal · Cirque Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1510638

Abandoned 1979-10-01
Diamond D #1
Surface coal · Diamond D Coal Inc · MSHA ID 1516507

Abandoned 1988-10-18
E-6
Surface coal · Grayson Coal & Stone Company Inc · MSHA ID 1507329

Abandoned 1989-12-07
Eagle #1
Surface coal · Iron Eagle Enterprises LLC · MSHA ID 1519351

Abandoned 2012-05-11
Elliott #1
Surface coal · Addington Inc · MSHA ID 1516995

Abandoned 1993-01-15
Elliott #2 Pit 002-0
Surface coal · Placer Coal Inc · MSHA ID 1508760

Abandoned 1978-05-09
Elliott No 4 Surface Mine
Surface coal · Placer Coal Inc · MSHA ID 1510174

Abandoned 1984-09-18
Huscoal No 3 Surface
Surface coal · Huscoal Inc · MSHA ID 1511002

Abandoned 1979-10-01
Job #8
Surface coal · Mountain Source Energy, LLC · MSHA ID 1519556

Abandoned 2015-04-01
Mine #2
Surface coal · J & M Equipment & Construction Co., Inc. · MSHA ID 1518432

Abandoned 2009-03-24
Mine No 1
Surface coal · Bruin Trucking Inc · MSHA ID 1514142

Abandoned 1987-09-16
Mine No 1
Surface coal · Trimar Inc · MSHA ID 1516671

Abandoned 1990-12-04
Newcomb Creek #1
Surface coal · N F C Mining Inc · MSHA ID 1516397

Abandoned 1991-06-25
Newcomb Creek Auger
Surface coal · N F C Mining Inc · MSHA ID 1516889

Abandoned 1991-02-28
Newcombe Creek
Surface coal · Foothills Mining, LLC · MSHA ID 1519154

Abandoned 2024-01-24
No 032-0079 Surface
Surface coal · Bluegrass Mining · MSHA ID 1513655

Abandoned 1984-12-26
No 1
Underground coal · Maverick Mining Inc · MSHA ID 1516645

Abandoned and Sealed 1996-02-26
No 1
Underground coal · Shawn Coals Inc · MSHA ID 1516756

Abandoned and Sealed 1993-04-08
No 1
Surface coal · Bozine Investments LLC · MSHA ID 1519366

Abandoned 2012-05-11
No 1 Mine
Underground coal · Burchcoal Corp · MSHA ID 1511768

Abandoned 1980-04-28
No 1 Mine
Underground coal · Sawgrass Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1512460

Abandoned 1980-11-03
No 1 Mine
Underground coal · Associated Fuels Inc · MSHA ID 1512927

Abandoned and Sealed 1981-08-12
No 1 Surface
Surface coal · Addington Brothers Mining Inc · MSHA ID 1506226

Abandoned 1980-05-02
No 1 Surface
Surface coal · G T Juett Coal Company · MSHA ID 1507924

Abandoned 1979-10-01
No 1 Surface
Surface coal · Natchez Constructors Inc · MSHA ID 1508092

Abandoned 1979-10-01
No 1 Surface
Surface coal · Adams & Keeton Mining Inc · MSHA ID 1508950

Abandoned 1976-05-10
No 1 Surface
Surface coal · Pan Hand Coal Inc · MSHA ID 1509718

Abandoned 1976-06-17
No 1 Surface
Surface coal · Empress Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1510031

Abandoned 1977-07-11
No 1 Surface
Surface coal · Minimax Mines & Minerals Inc · MSHA ID 1511016

Abandoned 1979-10-01
No 1 Surface
Surface coal · Genesis Coal Company · MSHA ID 1511823

Abandoned 1979-10-01
No 1 Surface
Surface coal · Tygart Creek Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1512093

Abandoned 1980-01-10
No 1 Surface
Surface coal · Pioneer Equipment Inc · MSHA ID 1514069

Abandoned 1987-04-24
No 1 Surface
Surface coal · M K M Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1514655

Abandoned 1985-01-11
No 1 Surface
Surface coal · Clevenger Brothers Inc · MSHA ID 1514869

Abandoned 1985-08-19
No 1 Surface
Surface coal · E G B Resources Inc · MSHA ID 1515309

Abandoned 1986-03-10
No 1 Surface
Surface coal · Maverick Mining Inc · MSHA ID 1516907

Abandoned 1990-12-26
No 1 Surface Mine
Surface coal · Brushy Creek Coal Inc · MSHA ID 1506748

Abandoned 1975-08-25
No 1 Surface Mine
Surface coal · Harris & Ingram Contracting Inc · MSHA ID 1507940

Abandoned 1975-08-25
No 1 Surface Mine
Surface coal · Energy Resources Inc · MSHA ID 1508123

Abandoned 1979-10-20
No 1 Surface Mine
Surface coal · Consumers Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1508132

Abandoned 1979-12-11
No 1 Surface Mine
Surface coal · Paleke Coal Company · MSHA ID 1508759

Abandoned 1979-10-01
No 1 Surface Mine
Surface coal · Ruth Contracting Corp · MSHA ID 1512814

Abandoned 1984-01-04
No 1 Surface Mine
Surface coal · Associated Fuels Inc · MSHA ID 1513183

Abandoned 1982-09-08
No 1 Surface Mine
Surface coal · Burke Brothers Mining Inc · MSHA ID 1513344

Abandoned 1983-08-09
No 1 Surface Mine
Surface coal · Wendigo Coal Corp · MSHA ID 1513354

Abandoned 1982-07-14
No 2 Mine
Underground coal · Tri-A Coal Company · MSHA ID 1512318

Abandoned and Sealed 1980-07-30
No 2 Mine
Underground coal · Associated Fuels Inc · MSHA ID 1512928

Abandoned and Sealed 1981-08-12
No 2 Surface
Surface coal · K & M Trucking Company Inc · MSHA ID 1508762

Abandoned 1979-10-01
No 2 Surface
Surface coal · Pan Hand Coal Inc · MSHA ID 1509327

Abandoned 1976-10-18
No 2 Surface
Surface coal · Dennis Dean Coal Company · MSHA ID 1510222

Abandoned 1979-10-01
No 2 Surface
Surface coal · Dennis Dean Coal Company · MSHA ID 1510258

Abandoned 1977-06-23
No 2 Surface
Surface coal · Brite-Lite Energy · MSHA ID 1510293

Abandoned 1979-10-01
No 2 Surface
Surface coal · Contour Gradeing · MSHA ID 1510701

Abandoned 1978-09-11
No 2 Surface
Surface coal · Stripco Coal Corp · MSHA ID 1510802

Abandoned 1979-10-01
No 2 Surface
Surface coal · Little Fork Resources & Development Corp · MSHA ID 1513621

Abandoned 1987-10-07
No 2 Surface
Surface coal · Hi-Energy Inc · MSHA ID 1516669

Abandoned 1990-03-07
No 2 Surface Mine
Surface coal · Brushy Creek Coal Inc · MSHA ID 1507415

Abandoned 1979-12-10
No 2 Surface Mine
Surface coal · T B S Mining Inc · MSHA ID 1508120

Abandoned 1975-12-30
No 2 Surface Mine
Surface coal · C S S Mining Company Inc · MSHA ID 1512921

Abandoned 1982-06-09
No 2 Surface Mine
Surface coal · Byesville Construction Company · MSHA ID 1513515

Abandoned 1982-10-14
No 3
Underground coal · T R & H Development Inc · MSHA ID 1516370

Abandoned and Sealed 1996-02-26
No 3 Auger Mine
Surface coal · W C A Inc · MSHA ID 1512849

Abandoned 1982-07-21
No 3 Mine
Underground coal · Associated Fuels Inc · MSHA ID 1512929

Abandoned and Sealed 1981-08-12
No 3 Surface
Surface coal · S S C Mining Inc · MSHA ID 1508763

Abandoned 1977-07-11
No 3 Surface
Surface coal · Cave Run Mining Company Inc · MSHA ID 1510485

Abandoned 1978-01-26
No 3 Surface
Surface coal · Century Coal Enterprises · MSHA ID 1511420

Abandoned 1979-10-01
No 3 Surface
Surface coal · Norma Jean Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1511643

Abandoned 1981-02-05
No 3 Surface
Surface coal · Shaker Coal Company · MSHA ID 1512623

Abandoned 1987-12-31
No 3 Surface Mine
Surface coal · Silverton Mining Company Inc · MSHA ID 1513499

Abandoned 1983-04-14
No 4 Surface
Surface coal · W S H Construction Company Inc · MSHA ID 1510771

Abandoned 1980-01-30
No 4 Surface
Surface coal · Abba Mining Inc · MSHA ID 1514865

Abandoned 1985-07-24
No 4 Surface Mine
Surface coal · S S C Mining Inc · MSHA ID 1510374

Abandoned 1982-07-21
No 5 Surface Mine
Surface coal · Flattop Mining Inc · MSHA ID 1507418

Abandoned 1975-10-09
No 5 Surface Mine
Surface coal · D D & S Coal Company · MSHA ID 1510018

Abandoned 1977-01-24
No. 1
Surface coal · Howard Brothers Excavating, Inc. · MSHA ID 1518798

Abandoned 2007-03-12
Peters #1
Surface coal · David J Peters · MSHA ID 1516061

Abandoned 1988-10-13
Surface Mine #23
Surface coal · Collins & May Mining Company Inc · MSHA ID 1516861

Abandoned 1991-08-06
Surface No 1
Surface coal · Billings Corp · MSHA ID 1513753

Abandoned 1985-02-19

Status and date are as reported to MSHA by the operator. Each mine's own page carries its accident, citation and inspection record.

By source vocabularythe publishers' own terms

Feature type	Class	Source	Features
Strip Mine	Mines and surface workings	USGS topo symbol (area)	31
Adit	Mine openings	USGS topo symbol (point)	14
Disturbed Surface	Mines and surface workings	USGS topo symbol (area)	9
P3 Spoil Area	Dumps, tailings, spoil and gob	OSMRE e-AMLIS problem	4
P3 Bench	Other reclamation problems	OSMRE e-AMLIS problem	4
P2 Dangerous Impoundments	Other reclamation problems	OSMRE e-AMLIS problem	3
Strip Mine	Mines and surface workings	USGS topo symbol (point)	2
P3 Other	Other reclamation problems	OSMRE e-AMLIS problem	2
P2 Clogged Stream Lands	Other reclamation problems	OSMRE e-AMLIS problem	2
P2 Dangerous Highwalls	Other reclamation problems	OSMRE e-AMLIS problem	1
P2 Dangerous Slides	Other reclamation problems	OSMRE e-AMLIS problem	1
P1 Dangerous Impoundments	Other reclamation problems	OSMRE e-AMLIS problem	1

Other counties in KentuckyAll counties →

How to read these numbers

A USGS feature is a symbol on a historical topographic map, there when the map was surveyed; it may since have been sealed, reclaimed, built over or reopened as a working mine, and the map does not say which. An OSMRE row is a problem the abandoned mine land program tracks, not a mine. An MSHA mine is a registered operation whose operator reported abandonment, a record that starts in the 1970s. The three overlap and are never added together. The county is assigned from each feature's coordinates against the Census 2023 county boundaries. The full method is on the national page.

Sources

USGS, Consolidated Prospect- and Mine-Related Features from 7.5- and 15-Minute Topographic Quadrangle Maps of the United States (USMIN)
597,612 point and area features digitized from about 106,350 historical topographic maps published 1886–2006; public domain (CC0). A feature is a map symbol, not a field-verified site, and the map does not say whether it was still worked.
USGS Fact Sheet 2025–3003, The Abandoned Mine Inventory of the United States
States that as of 2025 there is no comprehensive national inventory of abandoned mine features, and that the detailed national database now being built will not be published.
OSMRE, Abandoned Mine Land Inventory System (e-AMLIS), public Problems layer
One row per abandoned mine land problem in a problem area, with its type, funding program and reclamation status; mostly coal mined before the 1977 Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act. Coordinates are the problem area's.
MSHA, Mines dataset (Mine Data Retrieval System)
Every mine registered with MSHA since the 1970s; a mine reads Abandoned or Abandoned and Sealed when its operator reported that status. Refreshed weekly.
US Census Bureau, 2023 cartographic county boundaries (1:500,000)
Each feature's county is assigned by its coordinates against these boundaries, not copied from the source file.
GAO-20-238, Abandoned Hardrock Mines (March 2020)
Federal agencies had identified at least 140,000 abandoned hardrock mine features on federal land and estimated more than 390,000 more not yet captured in their databases.
Abandoned Hardrock Mine Reclamation (AHMR) Program, US Department of the Interior
The program the USGS inventory is compiled for. Its appropriations and the 674,000 field-confirmed feature count on this page were provided by the program manager, Office of Environmental Policy and Compliance, and are cited with permission (2026-09-08).
IMCC-NAAMLP Hardrock AML Report
Page 48 carries the two figures this page leans on: USGS estimates 633,181 of the 725,690 mine features it recorded from historic topographic maps, 87 percent, are hardrock; and state and federal agencies have submitted more than 724,000 AML features to the national database being built, already more than the historic maps hold. Year-by-year AHMR funding is on page 35.