Abandoned mines in Muhlenberg County, Kentucky

1. Mine openings

   shafts, adits, air shafts, portals and vertical openings: the ways into underground workings
   73 21.5%
2. Mines and surface workings

   labelled mines, open pits, strip mines, placer and hydraulic workings
   142 41.9%
3. Quarries, gravel and borrow pits

   construction-material and industrial-mineral extraction
   4 1.2%
4. Dumps, tailings, spoil and gob

   what mining left above ground
   22 6.5%
5. Mills, tipples and facilities

   processing plants and hazardous structures
   9 2.7%
6. Other reclamation problems

   highwalls, subsidence, polluted or clogged water, fires, slides and gases in OSMRE's inventory
   89 26.3%

A name is the label printed beside the symbol on the map. "First mapped" is the earliest topographic edition that shows the symbol, which bounds the feature's age from above; it is not the date it was worked. Unnamed features (most prospect pits, adits and shafts carry no label) are in the counts above but not this list.

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 Dredge

   Facility coal · PC Kentucky Synthetic Fuel #3, LLC · MSHA ID 1518199
   Abandoned 2004-08-30
2. Alston 1-W U G

   Underground coal · Peabody Coal Company · MSHA ID 1510738
   Abandoned 1977-09-01
3. Andrews Run Mine

   Surface coal · Friendship Energy Inc · MSHA ID 1517459
   Abandoned 1994-03-21
4. Auger #1

   Surface coal · Tri-State Auger Mining Inc · MSHA ID 1517333
   Abandoned 1993-03-03
5. Ayrgem Strip Mine

   Surface coal · Amax Coal Company · MSHA ID 1502062
   Abandoned 1981-12-18
6. Ayrgem Strip Mine

   Surface coal · Amax Coal Company · MSHA ID 1503723
   Abandoned 1973-02-20
7. Back in Black

   Surface coal · Oxford Mining Company-Kentucky, LLC · MSHA ID 1518622
   Abandoned 2010-08-30
8. Back In Black

   Surface coal · Rapid Energy, Inc. · MSHA ID 1518484
   Abandoned 2003-03-24
9. Beech Creek

   Facility coal · Western Kentucky Operating Services, LLC. · MSHA ID 1518638
   Abandoned 2005-01-10
10. Beech Creek #1 Auger

    Surface coal · Beech Creek Energy Inc · MSHA ID 1517474
    Abandoned 1996-09-09
11. Beech Creek Iii

    Surface coal · Pond Creek Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1515840
    Abandoned 1993-08-17
12. Beech Creek Mine

    Surface coal · C & R Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1518377
    Abandoned 2009-06-10
13. Beech Creek No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Rocky Creek Coal Company · MSHA ID 1508685
    Abandoned 1975-12-16
14. Black Desert

    Surface coal · Beech Creek Energy Inc · MSHA ID 1516451
    Abandoned 1997-04-21
15. Briar Hill Mine

    Surface coal · Schoate Mining Company Llc · MSHA ID 1518435
    Abandoned 2002-10-02
16. Brier Creek Mine

    Underground coal · KenAmerican Resources, Inc. · MSHA ID 1518495
    Abandoned and Sealed 2009-01-08
17. Browder Mine

    Surface coal · Friendship Energy Inc · MSHA ID 1517460
    Abandoned 1998-01-13
18. Burden Mine #1

    Surface coal · Phillip F Burden · MSHA ID 1517762
    Abandoned 1999-01-04
19. Burden No. 2

    Surface coal · Midsouth Energy Inc. · MSHA ID 1518807
    Abandoned 2009-11-04
20. Busick Mine

    Underground coal · Brown Badgett Inc · MSHA ID 1509311
    Abandoned and Sealed 1983-06-29
21. Caney Creek Mine

    Surface coal · West Ken Coal Corp · MSHA ID 1502063
    Abandoned 1990-01-08
22. Caney Creek Prep Plant

    Facility coal · West Ken Coal Corp · MSHA ID 1502067
    Abandoned 1987-11-19
23. Canyon Lake Mine

    Surface coal · Canyon Coals Inc · MSHA ID 1517229
    Abandoned 1994-07-26
24. Carbon #1

    Facility coal · Carbon Operations Of Kentucky, LLC · MSHA ID 1518073
    Abandoned 2005-01-06
25. Carbonero #1

    Underground coal · Carbonero Inc · MSHA ID 1515263
    Abandoned and Sealed 1985-06-28
26. Cary-Watts No 7

    Surface coal · Cary-Watts Inc · MSHA ID 1513673
    Abandoned 1986-03-14
27. Cave Springs

    Surface coal · Brown Badgett Inc · MSHA ID 1512277
    Abandoned 1983-02-22
28. CCU Halls Creek Mine

    Surface coal · CCU Coal and Construction LLC. · MSHA ID 1518134
    Abandoned 2019-03-06
29. Charolais Mine #3

    Surface coal · Charolais Coal No. 1 LLC · MSHA ID 1518482
    Abandoned 2005-12-13
30. Comcol No 1

    Surface coal · Comcol Fuel Inc · MSHA ID 1511349
    Abandoned 1983-02-01
31. Covol Fuels No. 2, LLC

    Surface coal · Covol Fuels No. 2, LLC · MSHA ID 1519205
    Abandoned 2020-08-31
32. Cresent Recovery Project

    Surface coal · B & M Recovery · MSHA ID 1519417
    Abandoned 2012-03-26
33. Crown Energy Corporation

    Surface coal · Crown Energy Corp · MSHA ID 1516653
    Abandoned 1991-06-22
34. Depoy

    Surface coal · Black Magic Resources Inc · MSHA ID 1516862
    Abandoned 1995-10-26
35. Depoy Mine

    Surface coal · Friendship Energy Inc · MSHA ID 1517840
    Abandoned 1997-08-08
36. Depoy Mine

    Surface coal · Black Hills Coal Inc · MSHA ID 1518187
    Abandoned 2004-07-30
37. Drake Mine No 1

    Underground coal · Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company · MSHA ID 1502073
    Abandoned 1980-09-19
38. Drake Mine No 3

    Underground coal · Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company · MSHA ID 1504452
    Abandoned and Sealed 1980-05-21
39. Drake No 2 Ug Mine

    Underground coal · Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company · MSHA ID 1502071
    Abandoned 1974-01-28
40. Drakesboro Strip

    Surface coal · Buck Knob Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1505229
    Abandoned 1973-02-08
41. Friendship Mine

    Surface coal · Friendship Energy Inc · MSHA ID 1517357
    Abandoned 1994-09-26
42. Geibel Mine

    Surface coal · Oxford Mining Company-Kentucky, LLC · MSHA ID 1519655
    Abandoned 2018-03-29
43. Gibraltar

    Surface coal · Peabody Coal Company · MSHA ID 1502065
    Abandoned 2004-12-02
44. Gibraltar Highwall

    Underground coal · Peabody Coal Company · MSHA ID 1517495
    Abandoned and Sealed 2003-02-03
45. Gibralter Slurry Recovery

    Surface coal · Green Energy Holdings, LLC · MSHA ID 1519404
    Abandoned 2012-07-01
46. Graham #4 Underground

    Underground coal · Peabody Coal Company · MSHA ID 1516276
    Abandoned and Sealed 1990-09-24
47. Graham #5 Underground Mine

    Underground coal · Peabody Coal Company · MSHA ID 1516701
    Abandoned and Sealed 1989-08-22
48. Graham Hill

    Underground coal · Peabody Coal Company · MSHA ID 1510739
    Abandoned and Sealed 1981-03-05
49. Graham Hill No 2

    Underground coal · Peabody Coal Company · MSHA ID 1512333
    Abandoned and Sealed 1985-02-22
50. Graham No 3

    Underground coal · Peabody Coal Company · MSHA ID 1513283
    Abandoned and Sealed 1990-04-27
51. Greenville No 1 Strip Mine

    Surface coal · Black Energy Mining Company · MSHA ID 1508462
    Abandoned 1988-03-15
52. H & G Mine 3g

    Surface coal · H & G Construction Company Inc · MSHA ID 1514209
    Abandoned 1983-09-30
53. Hampton Strip

    Surface coal · Thornberry Construction Company · MSHA ID 1506317
    Abandoned 1978-05-23
54. Jacobs Creek Mine

    Surface coal · Canyon Coals Inc · MSHA ID 1516848
    Abandoned 1994-07-26
55. Jessup

    Surface coal · G & G Energies Inc · MSHA ID 1515839
    Abandoned 2000-06-06
56. Jessup Mine

    Surface coal · Oxford Mining Company-Kentucky, LLC · MSHA ID 1518905
    Abandoned 2010-05-03
57. Jon F. Geibel Operating Company

    Facility coal · Jon F. Geibel Operating Company · MSHA ID 1518561
    Abandoned 2003-01-23
58. K O Mine

    Surface coal · Oxford Mining Company-Kentucky LLC · MSHA ID 1519303
    Abandoned 2012-06-27
59. Lri Reclamation Site

    Facility coal · Land Restoration Inc · MSHA ID 1502066
    Abandoned 1996-07-08
60. Martwick Underground

    Underground coal · Peabody Coal Company · MSHA ID 1514074
    Abandoned and Sealed 2001-02-08
61. Mine #5

    Surface coal · Charolais Mining Company LLC · MSHA ID 1518882
    Abandoned 2008-12-18
62. Mine No 2

    Surface coal · Phoenix Coal Processing Company LLC · MSHA ID 1518728
    Abandoned 2008-01-01
63. Moorman Surface Mine

    Surface coal · Peabody Coal Company · MSHA ID 1510736
    Abandoned 1992-12-31
64. Mud River No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Union County Mine Company Inc · MSHA ID 1510699
    Abandoned 1979-10-01
65. Nelson Creek Mine

    Underground coal · Arch On The Green Inc · MSHA ID 1513637
    Abandoned and Sealed 1987-11-09
66. No 1 Strip

    Surface coal · Viola Coal Company · MSHA ID 1509745
    Abandoned 1977-11-03
67. No 2 Strip

    Surface coal · Watterson Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1510543
    Abandoned 1980-10-30
68. Paradise #11

    Underground coal · Kenamerican Resources Inc · MSHA ID 1517606
    Abandoned and Sealed 1998-03-19
69. Paradise Strip

    Surface coal · Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Company · MSHA ID 1502072
    Abandoned 1981-10-19
70. Parkway Mine

    Underground coal · Armstrong Coal Company, Inc. · MSHA ID 1519358
    Abandoned and Sealed 2017-04-04
71. Penrod Mine

    Surface coal · Belcher Development Company Inc · MSHA ID 1515036
    Abandoned 1986-10-01
72. Perfect Circle Mine

    Surface coal · Brown Badgett Inc · MSHA ID 1503725
    Abandoned 1986-11-14
73. Pond Creek No 1

    Surface coal · Pond Creek Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 1513680
    Abandoned 1986-10-06
74. Powderly Mine

    Surface coal · Arch On The Green Inc · MSHA ID 1512185
    Abandoned 1989-03-14
75. Rhodes

    Surface coal · West Ken Coal Corp · MSHA ID 1512302
    Abandoned 1988-03-07
76. River Queen Strip

    Surface coal · Peabody Coal Company · MSHA ID 1503987
    Abandoned 1994-03-08
77. River Queen Ug Mine No 1

    Underground coal · Peabody Coal Company · MSHA ID 1502070
    Abandoned and Sealed 1981-02-02
78. Rochester Dock

    Facility coal · Rochester Dock Company · MSHA ID 1510005
    Abandoned 1982-01-28
79. Rochester Terminal

    Facility coal · Vic Inc · MSHA ID 1513542
    Abandoned 1983-12-27
80. Rock Crusher Plant Site

    Facility coal · Covol Fuels No. 2, LLC · MSHA ID 1519071
    Abandoned 2018-04-05
81. Rose France Mine

    Surface coal · Western Kentucky Minerals, Inc. · MSHA ID 1519466
    Abandoned 2025-02-25
82. Schoate Preparation Plant

    Facility coal · Oxford Mining Company-Kentucky, LLC · MSHA ID 1519365
    Abandoned 2017-11-03
83. Sinclair No 1 Mine

    Underground coal · Peabody Coal Company · MSHA ID 1507165
    Abandoned 1978-03-20
84. Sinclair Slope Ug #2

    Underground coal · Peabody Coal Company · MSHA ID 1507166
    Abandoned and Sealed 1992-07-23
85. Sinclair Strip Mine

    Surface coal · Peabody Coal Company · MSHA ID 1502069
    Abandoned 1989-04-27
86. Star Breaker

    Facility coal · Peabody Coal Company · MSHA ID 1503161
    Abandoned 1989-10-17
87. Star Mine

    Surface coal · Oxford Mining Company-Kentucky, LLC · MSHA ID 1519452
    Abandoned 2018-03-29
88. Star South Underground

    Underground coal · Peabody Coal Company · MSHA ID 1511265
    Abandoned and Sealed 1989-07-31
89. Strip Mine No 1

    Surface coal · Cherokee Energy Co Inc · MSHA ID 1508272
    Abandoned 1975-09-15
90. Venture Strip Mine

    Surface coal · West Ken Coal Corp · MSHA ID 1503845
    Abandoned 1984-07-27
91. Vic'S No 2

    Surface coal · Vic Inc · MSHA ID 1513557
    Abandoned 1985-07-19
92. Vogue

    Facility coal · Peabody Coal Company · MSHA ID 1502068
    Abandoned 1988-03-02
93. W K Resouces

    Surface coal · W K Resources Inc · MSHA ID 1517626
    Abandoned 1995-03-31
94. W K Resources Inc

    Surface coal · W K Resources Inc · MSHA ID 1517513
    Abandoned 1994-03-15
95. Weslo Mine #3

    Surface coal · Weslo Inc · MSHA ID 1517369
    Abandoned 1993-11-09
96. Whitaker Mines #1

    Surface coal · Renfro Equipment, Inc. · MSHA ID 1518543
    Abandoned 2005-12-13
97. Wilcoal Mine

    Surface coal · Corum & Co Inc · MSHA ID 1506824
    Abandoned 1974-09-26
98. Wild Game Mine

    Surface coal · Muhlenberg Coals Inc · MSHA ID 1516966
    Abandoned 1993-01-30
99. Wood No 1 Mine

    Underground coal · Wood Coal Sales Inc · MSHA ID 1501246
    Abandoned 1970-10-09
100. Wright Strip Mine

     Surface coal · Wright Coal Company · MSHA ID 1502074
     Abandoned 1973-11-06

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.