Alpha closing mine near Haysi, 121 workers cut

121 people will be out of a job after Alpha Natural Resources closes one of its mines.

Alpha says the Cherokee Mine near Haysi, Virginia is at the end of its life. 66 miners will be officially laid off in 60 days.  

55 others will continue to work, removing equipment and infrastructure and buttoning up the mine, which should take until September.  

The mine opened in 1997 and became part of Dickenson-Russell Coal Company and Alpha in 2002.  

The company says the mine closure is a result of continued adverse market conditions and the high cost of running the mine.