Abandoned mines in Laurel County, Kentucky

1. Mine openings

   shafts, adits, air shafts, portals and vertical openings: the ways into underground workings
   60 16.2%
2. Prospect pits and trenches

   shallow exploration diggings that never became a mine
   4 1.1%
3. Mines and surface workings

   labelled mines, open pits, strip mines, placer and hydraulic workings
   240 64.7%
4. Quarries, gravel and borrow pits

   construction-material and industrial-mineral extraction
   2 0.5%
5. Dumps, tailings, spoil and gob

   what mining left above ground
   10 2.7%
6. Other reclamation problems

   highwalls, subsidence, polluted or clogged water, fires, slides and gases in OSMRE's inventory
   55 14.8%

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.

1. #1

   Surface coal · Lowell V Gray · MSHA ID 1515363
   Abandoned 1985-10-22
2. #1 Strip

   Surface coal · Jamieson Construction Company · MSHA ID 1510042
   Abandoned 2008-04-08
3. #1 Surface

   Surface coal · Hixon & Mc Fadden Resources · MSHA ID 1514428
   Abandoned and Sealed 1984-09-10
4. #1 Surface

   Surface coal · D & Y Coal Company · MSHA ID 1514837
   Abandoned and Sealed 1986-02-24
5. #1 Surface

   Surface coal · Jasper Iron & Metal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1515710
   Abandoned and Sealed 1987-01-30
6. #1 Surface

   Surface coal · Bill Carter Trucking Inc · MSHA ID 4002785
   Abandoned 1982-05-03
7. Cri No 2 Mine

   Surface coal · Cumberland Resources Inc · MSHA ID 1512025
   Abandoned and Sealed 1984-12-28
8. D & B Contractors

   Surface coal · D & B Contractors · MSHA ID 1518402
   Abandoned 2002-04-30
9. Day No 1

   Surface coal · Ruby Coal Company · MSHA ID 1512841
   Abandoned 1992-09-01
10. Dog Branch

    Surface coal · Whymore Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1516350
    Abandoned 1994-06-28
11. Dominion Fuels Inc

    Facility coal · Dominion Fuels Inc · MSHA ID 1513774
    Abandoned 1991-02-26
12. E F W No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · E F W Mining Company · MSHA ID 1508158
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
13. Fariston Tipple

    Facility coal · Kentucky Blue Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1511436
    Abandoned 1985-05-07
14. Frost Coal No 28 Strip

    Surface coal · Rand Energy Inc · MSHA ID 1513325
    Abandoned and Sealed 1983-08-16
15. Holland Tract Strip

    Surface coal · Young & Finley Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1505489
    Abandoned 1976-06-03
16. Honey Hole LLC

    Facility coal · Honey Hole LLC · MSHA ID 1507305
    Abandoned 2023-05-11
17. J & S Permit #6955-77

    Surface coal · S P G Coal Inc · MSHA ID 1511479
    Abandoned 1980-06-11
18. Job #4

    Surface coal · C R S Energy Inc · MSHA ID 1515046
    Abandoned and Sealed 1985-02-04
19. K O K Contractors Inc

    Surface coal · K O K Contractors Inc · MSHA ID 1516772
    Abandoned and Sealed 1990-06-01
20. Laurel Co #1 Strip

    Surface coal · Ikerd-Bandy Company Inc · MSHA ID 1511811
    Abandoned 1993-03-17
21. Laurel County #1 Surface

    Surface coal · Kentucky Gem Coal Company-A Joint Venture · MSHA ID 1506810
    Abandoned 1980-02-27
22. Laurel County Augers

    Surface coal · Goldens Creek Enterprises Inc · MSHA ID 1518190
    Abandoned 2012-01-31
23. Laurel No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Performance Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1514024
    Abandoned and Sealed 1984-12-27
24. Laurel No 4 Surface

    Surface coal · Robinson Coal Company · MSHA ID 1510025
    Abandoned and Sealed 1987-09-22
25. Laurel No. 1

    Surface coal · T&T Coal Inc. · MSHA ID 1519671
    Abandoned 2014-07-08
26. Leeco No 42

    Underground coal · Leeco Inc · MSHA ID 1511631
    Abandoned and Sealed 1984-06-08
27. Lewis Coal No 7

    Underground coal · Lewis Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1506786
    Abandoned 1976-08-23
28. Lily Job Surface No 1 Or Alpine Mine

    Surface coal · Subreg Corp · MSHA ID 1511268
    Abandoned 1978-09-11
29. Long Branch Job

    Surface coal · Sandhill Processing Coal Co. · MSHA ID 1518872
    Abandoned 2005-09-27
30. LONG BRANCH JOB

    Surface coal · SAND HILL COAL PROCESSING, CO. · MSHA ID 1518799
    Abandoned 2006-03-31
31. Mgm Surface No 1

    Surface coal · M G M Coal Company Of Corbin Inc · MSHA ID 1512719
    Abandoned and Sealed 1982-05-06
32. Mills & Garland Const Co

    Surface coal · Mills & Garland Construction Company · MSHA ID 1511456
    Abandoned and Sealed 1990-05-23
33. Mine #1

    Surface coal · Smith Brothers Excavating · MSHA ID 1519185
    Abandoned 2008-04-02
34. Mine No 1

    Surface coal · B & J Land Company · MSHA ID 1513412
    Abandoned and Sealed 1983-11-28
35. Mine No 1

    Surface coal · Fanchon Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1513752
    Abandoned and Sealed 1983-08-01
36. Mine No 2 Surface

    Surface coal · Elmo Greer & Associates · MSHA ID 1511300
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
37. Mine No 265

    Surface coal · R R Dawson Bridge Company · MSHA ID 1513242
    Abandoned and Sealed 1982-12-09
38. Monties 1

    Surface coal · Monties Resources, LLC · MSHA ID 1519101
    Abandoned 2009-03-05
39. Moss Tipple

    Facility coal · Materials Inc · MSHA ID 1504427
    Abandoned 1988-12-23
40. Mountain Clay No 18

    Surface coal · Mountain Clay Inc · MSHA ID 1511891
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
41. Mt Clay No 4

    Surface coal · Mountain Clay Inc · MSHA ID 1507300
    Abandoned and Sealed 1985-02-14
42. Nineva Mine

    Surface coal · Clay Laurel Mining, Inc. · MSHA ID 1519662
    Abandoned 2014-07-08
43. No 1

    Surface coal · Willow Coal Inc · MSHA ID 1512461
    Abandoned and Sealed 1982-12-09
44. No 1

    Surface coal · F & J Construction Company · MSHA ID 1515554
    Abandoned and Sealed 1986-04-30
45. No 1

    Surface coal · Darrell Radford Coal Company · MSHA ID 1515791
    Abandoned and Sealed 1986-10-23
46. No 1

    Surface coal · Tracy House · MSHA ID 1515834
    Abandoned and Sealed 1986-12-01
47. No 1 Mine

    Underground coal · Foothills Coal Company · MSHA ID 1507331
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
48. No 1 Mine

    Underground coal · Hazel Patch Mining Company Inc · MSHA ID 1508989
    Abandoned 1976-06-24
49. No 1 Mine

    Surface coal · Majestic Coal Company · MSHA ID 1514761
    Abandoned and Sealed 1984-08-03
50. No 1 Mine

    Surface coal · Do Good Mining Inc · MSHA ID 1515884
    Abandoned and Sealed 1987-01-13
51. No 1 Mine

    Surface coal · J & J Coal · MSHA ID 1516033
    Abandoned 1987-09-30
52. No 1 Mine (Strip)

    Surface coal · Laurel Knox Coal Company · MSHA ID 1504348
    Abandoned 1972-07-21
53. No 1 Prep Plant

    Facility coal · Mid-Eastern Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1508371
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
54. No 1 Prep Plant

    Facility coal · Farris Development Company · MSHA ID 1512054
    Abandoned 1982-06-15
55. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · G & G Coal & Energy Company · MSHA ID 1505450
    Abandoned 1980-06-10
56. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Whitley Sunshine Coal Company · MSHA ID 1506805
    Abandoned 1976-12-09
57. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Jasper & Jasper Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1507303
    Abandoned and Sealed 1984-10-31
58. No 1 Strip

    Underground coal · D & L Coal Company · MSHA ID 1507971
    Abandoned 1980-02-13
59. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Jocol Inc · MSHA ID 1507985
    Abandoned 1976-07-01
60. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · C B S Coal Company · MSHA ID 1508036
    Abandoned 1977-12-05
61. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Marshall Begley Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1508076
    Abandoned 1977-12-05
62. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · A C Sutton & Sons Inc · MSHA ID 1508141
    Abandoned 1977-12-05
63. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Little King Coal Mining & Leasing Company · MSHA ID 1508445
    Abandoned 1980-06-10
64. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Coal Harvesters Inc · MSHA ID 1508504
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
65. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Gulf Atlantic Corp · MSHA ID 1508579
    Abandoned 1976-12-20
66. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · B & L Coal Company · MSHA ID 1508580
    Abandoned 1977-12-05
67. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · C M & S Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1508608
    Abandoned and Sealed 1982-06-15
68. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Encoal Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1509358
    Abandoned 1977-11-29
69. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Dixie Energy Corp · MSHA ID 1510016
    Abandoned 1977-08-22
70. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Casey Coal Corp · MSHA ID 1510041
    Abandoned 1980-02-27
71. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · S E L Coal Company · MSHA ID 1510227
    Abandoned 1988-11-29
72. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Mc Neil Trucking Corp · MSHA ID 1510245
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
73. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Ken-Coal Inc · MSHA ID 1510875
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
74. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Unit Train Coal Sales Inc · MSHA ID 1511311
    Abandoned 1980-08-20
75. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Trans American Mining & Development Corp · MSHA ID 1511475
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
76. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · J & S Coal Company · MSHA ID 1511478
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
77. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Stewart Development Company · MSHA ID 1511488
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
78. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Farris-Bowman Coal Corp · MSHA ID 1511491
    Abandoned and Sealed 1982-11-03
79. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Reed Construction Company · MSHA ID 1511498
    Abandoned 1987-12-01
80. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · O O Coal Company · MSHA ID 1511507
    Abandoned 1980-02-15
81. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · D & D Trucking Company · MSHA ID 1511585
    Abandoned and Sealed 1983-09-08
82. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · T V & M D Coal Company · MSHA ID 1511721
    Abandoned 1981-10-21
83. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Econ Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1511789
    Abandoned and Sealed 1984-06-11
84. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Lily Laurel Energy Inc · MSHA ID 1512425
    Abandoned 1981-09-01
85. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Vaughn Construction · MSHA ID 1512453
    Abandoned 1987-12-01
86. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Brown & Collins Inc · MSHA ID 1512565
    Abandoned 1981-04-20
87. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Ramco Construction · MSHA ID 1512566
    Abandoned and Sealed 1982-01-14
88. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · D & H Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1512652
    Abandoned and Sealed 1982-11-04
89. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Poor John Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1512653
    Abandoned 1981-08-28
90. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Panther Mining Company Inc · MSHA ID 1512716
    Abandoned 1981-06-08
91. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Bentley Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1513327
    Abandoned and Sealed 1984-06-01
92. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Knox Energy Corp · MSHA ID 1513347
    Abandoned and Sealed 1982-05-17
93. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · International Shasta Resources Ltd · MSHA ID 1513375
    Abandoned and Sealed 1984-04-02
94. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Bill Coal Construction · MSHA ID 1513473
    Abandoned and Sealed 1982-10-29
95. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · B B B Coal Company · MSHA ID 1513558
    Abandoned and Sealed 1983-08-02
96. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · H & B Coal Company · MSHA ID 1513775
    Abandoned and Sealed 1983-08-01
97. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · B L T Enterprises Inc · MSHA ID 1513826
    Abandoned and Sealed 1983-02-24
98. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · B & G Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1514793
    Abandoned and Sealed 1984-08-23
99. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · T H E Coal Company · MSHA ID 1515081
    Abandoned and Sealed 1986-07-28
100. No 1 Strip

     Surface coal · Mary Lynn Coal Company · MSHA ID 1515418
     Abandoned and Sealed 1985-10-30
101. No 1 Strip

     Surface coal · Blue Blazes Inc · MSHA ID 1515447
     Abandoned and Sealed 1986-04-21
102. No 1 Strip

     Surface coal · Bilfred Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1515555
     Abandoned and Sealed 1986-03-25
103. No 1 Strip

     Surface coal · M & S Coal · MSHA ID 1515703
     Abandoned and Sealed 1986-08-11
104. No 1 Strip Mine

     Surface coal · G W Owens - Excavating & Drilling Company · MSHA ID 1504333
     Abandoned 1973-02-07
105. No 1 Strip Mine

     Surface coal · B G & M Inc · MSHA ID 1504377
     Abandoned and Sealed 1984-12-31
106. No 1 Strip Mine

     Surface coal · B & T Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1505175
     Abandoned 1973-05-14
107. No 1 Strip Mine

     Surface coal · Roy G Hall Construction Co Inc · MSHA ID 1507135
     Abandoned 1977-12-05
108. No 1 Strip Mine

     Surface coal · Ramsey Construction Company · MSHA ID 1512740
     Abandoned and Sealed 1982-02-10
109. No 1 Strip Mine

     Surface coal · King Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1513147
     Abandoned and Sealed 1981-12-18
110. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Kentucky Gem Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1504326
     Abandoned 1973-02-26
111. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Bright Star Mining Company Inc · MSHA ID 1506339
     Abandoned 1976-04-12
112. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Four M Coal & Energy Company Inc · MSHA ID 1506845
     Abandoned and Sealed 1981-11-09
113. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Mark Iv Coal Inc · MSHA ID 1506872
     Abandoned 1980-06-10
114. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · P & H Coal Company · MSHA ID 1507437
     Abandoned 1976-12-09
115. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Brooks & Sizemore Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1507677
     Abandoned and Sealed 1981-12-11
116. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Roda Enterprises Inc · MSHA ID 1507960
     Abandoned 1977-11-28
117. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Three Blind Mice Coal Company · MSHA ID 1507995
     Abandoned 1977-11-28
118. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · T & T Coal Company · MSHA ID 1508144
     Abandoned 1979-10-01
119. No 1 Surface

     Underground coal · Mako Minerals · MSHA ID 1508156
     Abandoned 1979-10-01
120. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Bar Rem Company-Coal Div · MSHA ID 1508190
     Abandoned 1976-12-09
121. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Four G Corp · MSHA ID 1508444
     Abandoned 1977-12-05
122. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Laurel River Coal Company · MSHA ID 1508471
     Abandoned 1979-10-01
123. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Melco Coal Company · MSHA ID 1508616
     Abandoned 1977-01-24
124. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Miller Coal Inc · MSHA ID 1508792
     Abandoned 1975-09-01
125. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Americoal Corp · MSHA ID 1509731
     Abandoned 1978-05-30
126. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Kimco Mining Company Inc · MSHA ID 1510078
     Abandoned 1978-06-05
127. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Jo-An Coal Company · MSHA ID 1510131
     Abandoned 1978-09-11
128. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Texas Pioneer Coal Company · MSHA ID 1510193
     Abandoned 1979-10-01
129. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Midnight Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1510201
     Abandoned 1978-06-29
130. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Champion Energy Coal Company · MSHA ID 1510761
     Abandoned 1979-10-01
131. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Gold Dust Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1510763
     Abandoned and Sealed 1983-11-21
132. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Asher & Jervis · MSHA ID 1510811
     Abandoned 1978-09-11
133. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · James Moore Coal Company · MSHA ID 1511159
     Abandoned 1980-06-10
134. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Black Magic Mining · MSHA ID 1511203
     Abandoned and Sealed 1986-04-22
135. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Carolyn Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1511255
     Abandoned 1978-07-31
136. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Sherman York Coal Company · MSHA ID 1511267
     Abandoned 1980-10-24
137. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · B C & P Construction · MSHA ID 1511567
     Abandoned 1980-07-01
138. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Coffey Energy Corp · MSHA ID 1511781
     Abandoned 1979-10-01
139. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Silver Diamond Energy Inc · MSHA ID 1511847
     Abandoned and Sealed 1982-12-08
140. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Ray Coal Company · MSHA ID 1512111
     Abandoned 1981-11-05
141. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Sherman York Coal Company · MSHA ID 1512244
     Abandoned 1980-09-15
142. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Zema Mining Company · MSHA ID 1512626
     Abandoned 1981-10-02
143. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · B B & T Minerals · MSHA ID 1512676
     Abandoned and Sealed 1982-05-28
144. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · K & M Mining Company · MSHA ID 1512757
     Abandoned 1981-10-30
145. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Apex Mining Inc · MSHA ID 1513411
     Abandoned and Sealed 1986-01-29
146. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · C A R Mining Company Inc · MSHA ID 1514192
     Abandoned and Sealed 1984-12-27
147. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · R & N Coal Company · MSHA ID 1514197
     Abandoned and Sealed 1988-09-20
148. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Wiles Construcion · MSHA ID 1514234
     Abandoned and Sealed 1984-04-23
149. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Farris & Hacker Coal Inc · MSHA ID 1514441
     Abandoned and Sealed 1984-02-28
150. No 1 Surface

     Surface coal · Nicholson Coal Company · MSHA ID 1514715
     Abandoned and Sealed 1986-07-29

…and 75 more mines not listed here.

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

• Pike County 2,690
• Floyd County 2,006
• Letcher County 1,343
• Knott County 989
• Harlan County 911
• Johnson County 802
• Whitley County 726
• Perry County 695
• Knox County 639
• Bell County 627
• Leslie County 540
• Clay County 433

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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.
5. 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.
6. 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.
7. 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).
8. 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.