Mining Incidents
Abandoned mine inventory

Abandoned mines in Tucker County, West Virginia

Tucker County, West Virginia has 82 mine and prospect features on USGS topographic maps published 1916–1981, including 13 mine openings (shafts, adits and air shafts). OSMRE's abandoned mine land inventory lists 134 problems in the county, 59 of them not yet reclaimed. MSHA's register carries 11 mines in the county with status Abandoned or Abandoned and Sealed.

Every mine and prospect feature the USGS digitized from historical topographic maps covering Tucker 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)
82
Mine openings
13
OSMRE problems unreclaimed
59
MSHA mines marked abandoned
11
0 features carry a name0 prospect pits8 quadrangle maps, published 1916–1981 134 OSMRE problems, 75 reclaimed 0 MSHA mines abandoned and sealed
What the features are
  1. Mine openings
    shafts, adits, air shafts, portals and vertical openings: the ways into underground workings
    22 10.2%
  2. Mines and surface workings
    labelled mines, open pits, strip mines, placer and hydraulic workings
    63 29.2%
  3. Quarries, gravel and borrow pits
    construction-material and industrial-mineral extraction
    4 1.9%
  4. Dumps, tailings, spoil and gob
    what mining left above ground
    26 12.0%
  5. Mills, tipples and facilities
    processing plants and hazardous structures
    4 1.9%
  6. Other reclamation problems
    highwalls, subsidence, polluted or clogged water, fires, slides and gases in OSMRE's inventory
    97 44.9%
OSMRE abandoned mine land problems134 on inventory
Problem area Problem Status
Albert Highwall #1 P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Completed
Albert Highwall #1 P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments Reclamation Completed
Albert Highwall #1 P2 Polluted Water: Agricultural & Industrial Reclamation Completed
Albert Highwall #1 P2 Portals Reclamation Completed
Albert Highwall #1 P2 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Albert Highwall #1 P3 Pits Reclamation Completed
Albert Highwall #1 P3 Slump Reclamation Completed
Albert Highwall Enhancement A P2 Polluted Water: Agricultural & Industrial Reclamation Completed
Albert Highwall Enhancement A P2 Polluted Water: Agricultural & Industrial Reclamation Completed
Bearden Knob Highwall P3 High Wall Reclamation Pending
Beaver Creek Refuse P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Completed
Beaver Creek Refuse P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments Reclamation Completed
Beaver Creek Strip #1 P3 High Wall Reclamation Pending
Beaver Creek Strip #1 P3 Pits Reclamation Pending
Beaver Creek Strip #2 P3 Gobs Reclamation Pending
Beaver Creek Strip #2 P3 Other In Reclamation
Beaver Creek Strip #2 P3 Spoil Area Reclamation Pending
Beaver Creek Strip #3 P3 Spoil Area Reclamation Pending
Beaver Creek Strip #4 P3 Gobs Reclamation Pending
Beaver Creek Strip #4 P3 High Wall Reclamation Pending
Beaver Creek Strip #4 P3 Other Reclamation Pending
Benbush Refuse P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments Reclamation Completed
Benbush Refuse P2 Hazardous Equip & Facilities Reclamation Completed
Blackwater Highwall #1 P3 High Wall Reclamation Pending
Blackwater Manor P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Completed
Blackwater Manor P2 Dangerous Impoundments Reclamation Completed
Blackwater Manor P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments Reclamation Completed
Blackwater Manor P2 Hazardous Equip & Facilities Reclamation Completed
Blackwater Manor P2 Polluted Water: Agricultural & Industrial Reclamation Completed
Blackwater Manor P3 Gobs Reclamation Completed
Blackwater Manor P3 Other In Reclamation
Blackwater River Strip P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Pending
Blackwater River Strip P2 Hazardous Water Bodies Reclamation Pending
Blackwater River Strip P3 High Wall Reclamation Pending
Blackwater River Strip P3 Industrial/Residential Waste Reclamation Pending
Blackwater River Strip P3 Other In Reclamation
Blackwater River/Beaver Creek Neutr P2 Polluted Water: Agricultural & Industrial Reclamation Completed
Blackwater River/Beaver Creek Neutr P3 Water Problems Reclamation Completed
Blackwater River/Beaver Creek Neutr P3 Water Problems Reclamation Pending
Burns Blowout P1 Dangerous Impoundments Reclamation Completed
Burns Blowout P3 Water Problems Reclamation Completed
Chaffey Run Strip P2 Clogged Streams Reclamation Completed
Chaffey Run Strip P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Pending
Chaffey Run Strip P2 Portals Reclamation Pending
Chaffey Run Strip P2 Subsidence Reclamation Completed
Chaffey Run Strip P3 Gobs Reclamation Pending
Chaffey Run Strip P3 Spoil Area Reclamation Pending
Coketon Highwall P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Pending
Coketon Highwall P2 Dangerous Impoundments Reclamation Pending
Community of douglas WL Extension P2 Polluted Water: Human Consumption Reclamation Completed
Davis (Warren) Subsidence P1 Subsidence Reclamation Completed
Davis Coal and Coke P2 Portals Reclamation Pending
Davis Highwall P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Completed
Davis Highwall P3 High Wall Reclamation Completed
Davis Strip #2 P3 Gobs Reclamation Pending
Davis Strip #2 P3 Spoil Area Reclamation Pending
Davis Water Tank Subsidence P1 Subsidence Reclamation Completed
Devils Run Refuse P3 Gobs In Reclamation
Dobbin Ridge Highwall P3 High Wall Reclamation Pending
Douglas Highwall #2 P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Completed
Douglas Highwall #2 P2 Polluted Water: Agricultural & Industrial Reclamation Completed
Douglas Highwall #2 P2 Portals Reclamation Completed
Gatzmer Highwall P3 High Wall In Reclamation
Kempton Refuse and Rehabilitation P2 Clogged Streams Reclamation Completed
Kempton Refuse and Rehabilitation P2 Clogged Streams In Reclamation
Kempton Refuse and Rehabilitation P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Completed
Kempton Refuse and Rehabilitation P2 Dangerous Impoundments In Reclamation
Kempton Refuse and Rehabilitation P2 Dangerous Impoundments Reclamation Completed
Kempton Refuse and Rehabilitation P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments In Reclamation
Kempton Refuse and Rehabilitation P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments Reclamation Completed
Kempton Refuse and Rehabilitation P3 Slump In Reclamation
Kempton Refuse and Rehabilitation P3 Spoil Area Reclamation Completed
Kempton Refuse and Rehabilitation P3 Water Problems Reclamation Completed
Kempton Refuse and Rehabilitation P3 Water Problems In Reclamation
long run P2 Polluted Water: Agricultural & Industrial Reclamation Pending
North Fork of Blackwater AMD Treatm P3 Water Problems Reclamation Pending
Old Buffalo Drainage P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Pending
Old Buffalo Drainage P2 Hazardous Water Bodies Reclamation Pending
Old Buffalo Drainage P3 Mine Opening Reclamation Pending
Old Buffalo Drainage P3 Water Problems Reclamation Pending
Pendelton Creek Highwall #1 & 2 P3 Gobs Reclamation Pending
Pendelton Creek Highwall #1 & 2 P3 High Wall Reclamation Pending
Pendleton Creek Strip Phase I & II P2 Clogged Streams Reclamation Completed
Pendleton Creek Strip Phase I & II P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Completed
Pendleton Creek Strip Phase I & II P2 Dangerous Impoundments Reclamation Completed
Pendleton Creek Strip Phase I & II P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments Reclamation Completed
Pendleton Creek Strip Phase I & II P3 High Wall Reclamation Completed
Pierce Refuse Pile P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments Reclamation Completed
Pierce Refuse Pile P2 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Quality Hill (Wilfong) Drainage P2 Clogged Streams Reclamation Completed
Quality Hill (Wilfong) Drainage P2 Dangerous Impoundments Reclamation Pending
Quality Hill (Wilfong) Drainage P3 Industrial/Residential Waste Reclamation Completed
Quality Hill (Wilfong) Drainage P3 Water Problems Reclamation Completed
Roger Camp Hill Refuse And Spoil P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments Reclamation Completed
Roger Camp Hill Refuse And Spoil P2 Hazardous Water Bodies Reclamation Completed
Roger Camp Hill Refuse And Spoil P3 Water Problems Reclamation Pending
Snyder Run Highwall #2 P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Pending
Snyder Run Highwall #2 P3 Spoil Area Reclamation Pending
Snyder Run Highwall #3 P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Pending
Snyder Run Highwall #4 P2 Dangerous Highwalls Reclamation Pending
Thomas (brown Street) Subsidence Ph P1 Subsidence Reclamation Completed
Thomas (brown Street) Subsidence Ph P1 Subsidence Reclamation Completed
Thomas (douglas Road) Subsidence P1 Subsidence Reclamation Completed
Thomas (Euclid Ave) Sub. Ph. I&2 P1 Subsidence Reclamation Completed
Thomas (hardy) Subsidence P1 Subsidence Reclamation Completed
Thomas (Main St) DI and Drainage P2 Clogged Streams Reclamation Pending
Thomas (Main St) DI and Drainage P2 Dangerous Impoundments Reclamation Pending
Thomas (Main St) DI and Drainage P3 Slump Reclamation Pending
Thomas (northeast) Subs. Ph. 1,2,3 P1 Subsidence Reclamation Completed
Thomas (northeast) Subs. Ph. 1,2,3 P3 Other In Reclamation
Thomas (Phillips) Subsidence P1 Subsidence Reclamation Completed
Thomas (Reynolds) Subsidence P1 Subsidence Reclamation Completed
Thomas (sunrise Sanitation) Blowout P1 Dangerous Impoundments Reclamation Completed
Thomas (sunrise Sanitation) Blowout P2 Clogged Streams Reclamation Completed
Thomas (sunrise Sanitation) Blowout P2 Dangerous Impoundments Reclamation Completed
Thomas Portals Subsidence P1 Portals Reclamation Completed
Thomas Portals Subsidence P1 Subsidence Reclamation Completed
Timberman Ridge Highwall P3 High Wall Reclamation Pending
Town of Davis Water Tank Phase 2 P2 Polluted Water: Human Consumption Reclamation Completed
Tub Run Highwall and Refuse Phase I P1 Subsidence Reclamation Completed
Tub Run Highwall and Refuse Phase I P2 Dangerous Highwalls In Reclamation
Tub Run Highwall and Refuse Phase I P2 Dangerous Impoundments Reclamation Completed
Tub Run Highwall and Refuse Phase I P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments Reclamation Completed
Tub Run Highwall and Refuse Phase I P2 Hazardous Water Bodies Reclamation Completed
Tub Run Highwall and Refuse Phase I P2 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Tub Run Highwall and Refuse Phase I P3 Bench Reclamation Completed
Tub Run Highwall and Refuse Phase I P3 Other In Reclamation
Tub Run Highwall and Refuse Phase I P3 Slump Reclamation Completed
Tub Run Highwall and Refuse Phase I P3 Spoil Area Reclamation Completed
Tub Run Highwall and Refuse Phase I P3 Water Problems Reclamation Completed
WALD Passive Treatment Reconstructi P3 Water Problems Reclamation Pending
Yates Vertical Opening P1 Vertical Openings Reclamation Completed
Yellow Creek Refuse Pile P3 Gobs Reclamation Pending
Yellow Creek Refuse Pile P3 Spoil Area Reclamation Pending

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 Abandoned11 on register
  1. #1 Surface
    Surface coal · Davis Trucking Company Inc · MSHA ID 4603013
    Abandoned
  2. Beacon Knob Mine
    Surface coal · Keystone Coal Reserves, LLC · MSHA ID 4609380
    Abandoned
  3. Benbush No 1 Strip Mine
    Surface coal · Pickens Mining Company · MSHA ID 4604602
    Abandoned
  4. Davis Job
    Surface coal · Buffalo Coal Company Inc · MSHA ID 4607835
    Abandoned
  5. Kempton #2
    Facility coal · Douglas Coal Company · MSHA ID 4602675
    Abandoned
  6. No 2 Strip
    Surface coal · Douglas Coal Company · MSHA ID 4602674
    Abandoned
  7. No 3 Strip Mine
    Surface coal · Douglas Coal Company · MSHA ID 4602847
    Abandoned
  8. Sugarland Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · Shiloh Mining, Inc. · MSHA ID 4606067
    Abandoned
  9. Tucker County Landfill
    Surface coal · Tucker County Solid Waste Authority · MSHA ID 4609433
    Abandoned
  10. Valley Furnace Quarry
    Surface metal/non-metal · Valley Quarries Inc · MSHA ID 4602802
    Abandoned
  11. Valley Minerals Incorporated
    Surface metal/non-metal · Weiss Bros Construction Company Inc · MSHA ID 4606683
    Abandoned

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 Features
Strip Mine 52
P2 Dangerous Highwalls 15
Adit 13
P1 Subsidence 12
P3 Water Problems 11
P3 High Wall 11
Open Pit Mine or Quarry 10
P2 Dangerous Piles & Embankments 10
P2 Dangerous Impoundments 9
P3 Spoil Area 8
P3 Gobs 8
P2 Polluted Water: Agricultural & Industrial 7
P2 Clogged Streams 7
P3 Other 6
P2 Portals 4
P3 Slump 4
P2 Hazardous Water Bodies 4
P2 Vertical Openings 3
Tipple 2
P3 Industrial/Residential Waste 2
P2 Hazardous Equip & Facilities 2
P1 Dangerous Impoundments 2
P2 Polluted Water: Human Consumption 2
Quarry 2
P3 Pits 2
P3 Mine Opening 1
P3 Bench 1
Quarry 1
P1 Vertical Openings 1
Disturbed Surface 1
Sand Pit 1
P1 Portals 1
P2 Subsidence 1
Other counties in West VirginiaAll 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
  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.