Most of West Virginia is covered by the Appalachian Plateau Province. The Plateau holds mineral resources unmatched anywhere else in the eastern United States. These resources, especially its rich coal deposits, have historically been the foundation of West Virginia's economy. Coal stretches across the entire region, from the southern borders up to the north.

One layer of coal, called the Pittsburgh coal bed, is so vast and valuable it's been called the world's single most valuable mineral deposit. It's been mined here for over 150 years and is still a huge producer today. The rugged mountains and valleys of the southwest contain many different coal layers, including some of the highest quality coal found anywhere in the world.

Even though this plateau covers such a large area, differences in the local geology mean that the terrain and specific resources change as you travel across the Plateau.