Abandoned mines in McCreary County, Kentucky

1. Mine openings

   shafts, adits, air shafts, portals and vertical openings: the ways into underground workings
   147 40.8%
2. Prospect pits and trenches

   shallow exploration diggings that never became a mine
   7 1.9%
3. Mines and surface workings

   labelled mines, open pits, strip mines, placer and hydraulic workings
   105 29.2%
4. Quarries, gravel and borrow pits

   construction-material and industrial-mineral extraction
   4 1.1%
5. Dumps, tailings, spoil and gob

   what mining left above ground
   19 5.3%
6. Mills, tipples and facilities

   processing plants and hazardous structures
   3 0.8%
7. Other reclamation problems

   highwalls, subsidence, polluted or clogged water, fires, slides and gases in OSMRE's inventory
   75 20.8%

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 · Gayle Mining · MSHA ID 1515092
   Abandoned 1986-05-29
2. #1

   Surface coal · Twin Star Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1515241
   Abandoned 1986-01-13
3. #1

   Surface coal · Faraday Coal · MSHA ID 1515690
   Abandoned 1986-08-15
4. #1 Mine

   Surface coal · Cordell Mining · MSHA ID 1514958
   Abandoned 1985-05-21
5. #1 Mine

   Surface coal · Jamey Sexton Coal Company · MSHA ID 1516050
   Abandoned 1987-11-18
6. #1 Surface

   Surface coal · K & K Coal · MSHA ID 1514290
   Abandoned 1984-11-08
7. #2

   Surface coal · L & A Coal Company · MSHA ID 1517864
   Abandoned 2003-01-31
8. #7 Surface

   Surface coal · Little Rock Mining Inc · MSHA ID 1516305
   Abandoned 1988-05-23
9. #9 Strip

   Surface coal · Frost Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1512563
   Abandoned 1981-05-29
10. Baird No 1 Mine

    Surface coal · Ephraim Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1513989
    Abandoned 1984-02-14
11. Boney Branch #6

    Surface coal · Intercoastal Contracting Company · MSHA ID 1514484
    Abandoned 1985-02-14
12. Campbell #1

    Surface coal · Ruby Coal Company · MSHA ID 1516859
    Abandoned 1994-04-01
13. Coffey Hollow Mine

    Surface coal · Ramex Mining Corp · MSHA ID 1512708
    Abandoned 1981-05-29
14. Daugherty & Daugherty Construction Incor

    Surface coal · Daugherty & Daugherty Construction Inc · MSHA ID 1511081
    Abandoned 1980-04-24
15. Derek Lee

    Surface coal · R L M Construction · MSHA ID 1515401
    Abandoned 1986-10-03
16. Edwin Musgrove #1

    Surface coal · Edwin Musgrove · MSHA ID 1514796
    Abandoned 1986-01-06
17. Ginni Coal Co Mine

    Surface coal · Ginni Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1514681
    Abandoned 1984-11-05
18. Greenwood No 2 Mine

    Underground coal · Greenwood Land & Mining Company Inc · MSHA ID 1510074
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
19. Greenwood No 3 Mine

    Underground coal · Greenwood Land & Mining Company Inc · MSHA ID 1510075
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
20. Greenwood No 5

    Underground coal · Shamrock Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1510076
    Abandoned and Sealed 1987-04-09
21. Greenwood No 6 Mine

    Underground coal · Greenwood Land & Mining Company Inc · MSHA ID 1510077
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
22. Greenwood No 7 Surface

    Surface coal · Greenwood Land & Mining Company Inc · MSHA ID 1510003
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
23. Hemlock Tipple

    Facility coal · Rexon Coal Company · MSHA ID 1512842
    Abandoned 1986-10-20
24. Hollyhill No 1

    Surface coal · Bless Your Heart Coal · MSHA ID 1513878
    Abandoned 1985-03-19
25. Justus Mine

    Underground coal · Southfork Coal Company · MSHA ID 1502363
    Abandoned and Sealed 1994-06-15
26. Kim Coal Mine No 1

    Surface coal · Kim Coal Company · MSHA ID 1514883
    Abandoned 1985-02-14
27. King Construction

    Surface coal · J J & T Company · MSHA ID 1515146
    Abandoned 1986-01-06
28. Lovett

    Surface coal · C & S Coal Company · MSHA ID 1511557
    Abandoned 1993-03-04
29. Mark A King #1

    Surface coal · L & M Company · MSHA ID 1515157
    Abandoned 1986-10-03
30. Marsh Creek Surface

    Surface coal · Philbros Mining & Excavating Inc · MSHA ID 1511589
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
31. Mine #1

    Underground coal · K & R Coal Company · MSHA ID 1503760
    Abandoned 1971-10-08
32. Mine #1

    Surface coal · Dean Construction Company · MSHA ID 1514882
    Abandoned 1984-12-10
33. Mine No 1

    Surface coal · Douglas Coal Company · MSHA ID 1514561
    Abandoned 1984-11-02
34. Nicks Creek No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Nicks Creek Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1511651
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
35. No 1

    Underground coal · Camco Mining Company · MSHA ID 1508396
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
36. No 1

    Surface coal · Musgrove Construction · MSHA ID 1514346
    Abandoned 1985-02-08
37. No 1

    Surface coal · King Coal · MSHA ID 1514606
    Abandoned 1985-05-03
38. No 1

    Surface coal · Madison Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1515027
    Abandoned 1987-07-24
39. No 1 Auger

    Surface coal · Gaynell Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1513709
    Abandoned 1982-12-17
40. No 1 Mine

    Underground coal · Ryans Creek Coal Company · MSHA ID 1502641
    Abandoned 1972-12-29
41. No 1 Mine

    Underground coal · R & M Coal Company · MSHA ID 1504068
    Abandoned 1976-05-19
42. No 1 Mine

    Underground coal · S & K Coal Company · MSHA ID 1504166
    Abandoned 1976-05-20
43. No 1 Mine

    Underground coal · J & S Coal Company · MSHA ID 1505131
    Abandoned 1980-06-09
44. No 1 Mine

    Underground coal · Greenwood Land & Mining Company Inc · MSHA ID 1508428
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
45. No 1 Mine

    Surface coal · Little Mountain Mining Company · MSHA ID 1514427
    Abandoned 1984-10-17
46. No 1 Mine

    Surface coal · Day Ridge Coal Company · MSHA ID 1514460
    Abandoned 1985-02-14
47. No 1 Mine

    Surface coal · H & J Coal Company · MSHA ID 1514900
    Abandoned 1985-04-25
48. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Kentucky Bell Coal Co Inc · MSHA ID 1503579
    Abandoned 1976-05-27
49. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · W E & Jonah Warren Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1508435
    Abandoned 1977-11-28
50. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Nationwide Inc · MSHA ID 1508602
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
51. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · S & S Mining Corp · MSHA ID 1514254
    Abandoned 1985-02-08
52. No 1 Strip Mine

    Surface coal · Blue Ridge Minerals · MSHA ID 1508377
    Abandoned 1976-12-09
53. No 1 Surface

    Surface coal · Gene R Daugherty Trucking Company · MSHA ID 1508376
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
54. No 1 Surface

    Surface coal · Daugherty Bros Construction Inc · MSHA ID 1508936
    Abandoned 1980-12-01
55. No 1 Surface

    Surface coal · David & Jack King & Sons Excavating · MSHA ID 1510571
    Abandoned 1980-10-24
56. No 1 Surface

    Surface coal · Green Mountain Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1510604
    Abandoned 1978-07-31
57. No 1 Surface

    Surface coal · Pine Hill Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1512520
    Abandoned 1984-09-04
58. No 1 Surface

    Surface coal · Maybe Coal Company · MSHA ID 1512559
    Abandoned 1984-09-04
59. No 1 Surface

    Surface coal · New Era Fuels Inc · MSHA ID 1512784
    Abandoned 1983-12-09
60. No 1 Surface

    Surface coal · C & M Coal · MSHA ID 1513365
    Abandoned 1983-12-02
61. No 1 Surface

    Surface coal · Jerry W Miller · MSHA ID 1515456
    Abandoned 1986-01-06
62. No 1 Surface Mine

    Surface coal · D H Campbell Inc · MSHA ID 1506828
    Abandoned 1985-08-27
63. No 1 Surface Mine

    Surface coal · Starbrite Enterprises Inc · MSHA ID 1515501
    Abandoned 1986-03-06
64. No 1 Tipple

    Facility coal · Quality State Coal Company · MSHA ID 1508535
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
65. No 2 Mine

    Underground coal · Ryans Creek Coal Company · MSHA ID 1502642
    Abandoned 1973-05-03
66. No 2 Mine

    Surface coal · F & B Equipment Company Inc · MSHA ID 1513207
    Abandoned 1985-02-08
67. No 2 Surface

    Surface coal · Thunderbird Coal Corp · MSHA ID 1511029
    Abandoned and Sealed 1981-12-23
68. No 3 Auger

    Surface coal · West Coal Corp · MSHA ID 1505252
    Abandoned 1980-06-09
69. No 3 Mine

    Facility coal · Ryan'S Creek Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1502643
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
70. No 4 Mine

    Underground coal · Ryans Creek Coal Company · MSHA ID 1506761
    Abandoned 1980-06-09
71. No 5 Strip

    Surface coal · Mecklenburg Coal & Mining Company · MSHA ID 1510603
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
72. No 8 Surface

    Surface coal · Bud Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1511373
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
73. North Tipple

    Facility coal · Ryan'S Creek Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1511854
    Abandoned 1994-01-22
74. Oz Tipple

    Underground coal · West Coal Corp · MSHA ID 1508905
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
75. Parker Lake Prep Plant

    Facility coal · Flaming Sun Coal Inc · MSHA ID 1512942
    Abandoned 1985-05-09
76. Prep Plant

    Underground coal · Ryan'S Creek Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1508681
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
77. Prep Plant #1

    Facility coal · Wash Ridge Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1511741
    Abandoned 1994-10-04
78. R A C No 8

    Underground coal · R A C Mining Corp · MSHA ID 1513055
    Abandoned and Sealed 1984-11-19
79. Roadside Processing Inc

    Facility coal · Roadside Processing Inc · MSHA ID 1511417
    Abandoned 2014-03-11
80. Stearns Prep Plant

    Facility coal · Richland Coal Company · MSHA ID 1511401
    Abandoned 1981-04-17
81. Sun Ray #3 Surface Mine

    coal · Sun Ray Coal Co Inc · MSHA ID 1510163
    Abandoned 1980-12-31
82. Surface #4

    Surface coal · R M & S Coal Inc · MSHA ID 1515622
    Abandoned 1988-02-03
83. Surface Mine #3

    Surface coal · C & S Coal Company · MSHA ID 1512273
    Abandoned 1980-06-10
84. Surface Mine Ky

    Surface coal · Burch & Son Company · MSHA ID 1508615
    Abandoned 1980-08-25
85. Surface Mine No 1

    Surface coal · Ridner Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1512218
    Abandoned 1985-10-10
86. Surface Mine No 1

    Surface coal · L T J Coal Inc · MSHA ID 1513084
    Abandoned and Sealed 1983-03-22
87. T K G Tipple No 2

    Facility coal · T K G Coal Company · MSHA ID 1511499
    Abandoned 1980-06-11
88. Tipple #2

    Facility coal · Indian River Coal Company · MSHA ID 1511534
    Abandoned 1980-06-19
89. Tipple No 1

    Facility coal · Indian River Coal Company · MSHA ID 1511533
    Abandoned 1983-02-16
90. Tunnel Hollow Surface

    Surface coal · Thunderbird Coal Corp · MSHA ID 1508436
    Abandoned 1977-12-12
91. Williamsburg Coal Co Inc

    Facility coal · Williamsburg Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1510813
    Abandoned 1985-09-24
92. Wilson Farms

    Surface coal · Black Oak Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1511595
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
93. Yamacraw Fuel Mine #3

    Surface coal · Yamacraw Fuel · MSHA ID 1508534
    Abandoned 1981-01-19

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.