Inter-Mountain Resource Extraction: A Comparative Study of Gold Mining in Appalachia and Carpathia

Abstract

In regions such as Appalachia and Carpathia, gold mining has existed for centuries. However, the lucrative cost of gold in the regions has also produced a devastating environmental impact which deeply shaped the sociocultural and economic development of the regions. Utilizing case studies in Dahlonega, Georgia and Rosia Montana, Romania, I illuminate the closely tied human-geography of the regions. Through my research, I draw direct connections between the exploitation of human labor, culture, and the environment. By detailing how intrinsically connected people are to place, I examine the importance of vigilant politics, locally-oriented economics, and the need for cultural and environmental preservation.