Burton mine is located in the Bowen Basin, about 150 kilometres south-west of Mackay.  Mining commenced in 1996.  Peabody acquired 95 percent of Burton in April 2004.  It is operated under contract by Thiess.

Burton produces hard and semi hard coking and thermal coals.  Coal is railed 169 kilometres to the Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal, where it is exported predominantly to Japan, Taiwan, India, Europe and South America.

2009/10 saw the completion of the Broadmeadow and Wallanbah pits and the commencement of the Bullock Creek pit.  Currently Plumtree and Bullock Creek pits are in production.  A Burton Widening Project commenced in September 2010 with ancillary works and preparation work for dams and drains.

Burton mine was one of the first mining operations to use the terrace mining method for extracting steep seams.  With the approval of the Burton Widening Project, Burton is looking to modify the terrace mining concept to a depth approaching 230 metres at the highwall, which is an Australian first.