Strip Mining

Mountaintop Removal is an extreme form of strip mining that was prolific throughout Central Appalachia in the late 20th century—this type of mining continues today. Despite attempts to build a post-coal economy in this region, the devastating effects of mining and extraction impact the lives of those who live in this sacrifice zone.

This infographic was designed to be displayed at human scale, 5 feet across and 30 inches high.

These heat maps show the relationship between mountaintop removal sites and a range of quality-of-life metrics.

Creating this infographic included extensive research into Appalachian histories, contemporary accounts, politics, money, the courts, and environmental regulation. That research revealed an intermingled relationship between mining corporations and people in positions of government power. The history and destruction of mining in Appalachia is extensive. I chose to focus this infographic on the human impact, in hopes of connecting with my audience and communicating the toll of mountaintop removal in this American sacrifice zone.