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Mining in Sweden

January 01, 1970

The mining industry in Sweden has a history dating back 6,000 years.

Kiruna iron ore mine in Kiruna, Norrbotten County

Historically, Sweden's most famous mine is the copper Falun Mine in Dalarna, which made a significant contribution to the Swedish economy for several centuries. Sweden today is one of the largest sources of iron ore in Europe, with approximately 90% of Europe's iron and 5% of the world's iron reserves.[1]

Geology edit

Most of Sweden's landmass is geologically part of the Baltic Shield, which also covers Fennoscandia and northwest parts of Russia. The Baltic Shield has the oldest rock in Europe, and is one of the largest and most active mining areas on the European continent. Most Swedish mines are in the Baltic Shield.[2] The shield, because of its resemblance to the Canadian Shield and cratons in South Africa, is also a source of gold and diamonds.[3][4]

Copper edit

Sweden has a long history of mining, dating back thousands of years. Sweden's earliest mining company was Stora Kopparberg, which operated on the copper Falun Mine,[5] the most famous mine in Sweden.[6] It was the source of the pigment falu red that painted castles, churches and cottages still seen throughout Sweden.[7] Income from the Falun mine funded almost all of Sweden's wars throughout its history.[citation needed]

 
Falun Mine

In the Bronze Age, most copper used in Europe originated in places such as Sicily and Iberia and the Levant. For example, a 3,600 year old copper axe was created in Sweden using copper from Cyprus.[8] Europe's economy at the time relied heavily on copper, the major component of bronze.[9]

Sweden's Falun copper mine opened about 1300. It was the largest copper mine in Sweden, and produced two-thirds of Europe's copper needs. The largest industrial work place in Sweden, at its peak in 1650 the mine produced as much as three kilotons of raw copper in that one year.[10][11]

Iron edit

History edit

During the High Middle Ages, Sweden's iron industry followed the "eastern branch" iron production, using bowl furnace[clarification needed][12] methods rather than the open hearth "bloomery" model favored in England.[13] One of the most important Swedish iron products was osmund (also called osmond iron), small pieces made from pig iron, weighing no more than 300 grams, suited to the needs of village smithies. Later, production shifted to bar iron.[13][14][15]

It was also clear the Swedish iron-smelters were connected to major iron markets outside Sweden, where they also influenced osmund production sold by merchants from the Hanseatic League.[16] Many German miners and merchants (including some from Lübeck) came into Sweden to join Sweden's mining industry. Because of their influence, iron exports from Sweden went primarily to Lübeck and Danzig in modern-day Poland.[17]

Iron, as the major component of steel, is of major importance to mining.[18] Sweden's iron was important to both Nazi Germany and the Allies of World War II.[19]

21st century edit

The country holds 60% of Europe's identified iron ore deposits and is as of 2021 responsible for 90% of Europe's iron ore extraction,[20] and 5% of the world's reserves in 2014.[21][22][23] In 2012, Sweden was one of the most active major mining countries in Europe.[24][25] In the years up to 2013, Sweden's mines were producing around 80 million tons of ore in Sweden per year, mostly from Kiruna Mine, which in 2008 produced 27.5 million tons of iron.[26][27][28]

As of 2021 the Swedish government intends to expand and strengthen Sweden's position as a mining nation.[20] Crude steel produced in Sweden in 2017 (4,9 million tons) consisted of 1/3 scrap iron and 2/3 of pig iron made from iron ore.[18]

More than 96% of total ore production comes from the mines in the northern region, known as Norrland. Comprising 10 of the 12 active mines in the country, these mines lie in Sápmi (historically "Lapland"), the traditional territory of the Sámi[20]

Impact on people and the environment edit

In 2006, the British/Swedish Beowulf Mining was granted an exploration licence in Jokkmokk municipality, with the intention of exploiting the iron ore at a mine in the Gállok/Kallak area, known as the Kallak mine. The region is used by the Sámi community Jåhkågasska tjiellde for reindeer herding, as it is part of the natural migration route and they graze there all year round. When drilling started in 2013, an anti-mine movement developed consisting of environmental activists and the Sámi community.[20] This continues as of 2022. The Swedish Government refused Beowulf Mining's application in February 2020 [29] but in December 2021, the new Prime Minister of Sweden, Magdalena Andersson, said that Sweden needed more mines.[30]

The Kiruna Mine, the largest iron ore mine pit in Europe, plans to expand operations in the future. The nearby town of Kiruna would be endangered, however, if iron ore is extracted beneath it, which would cause instability in soil and building foundations. In order to resolve this problem, the mining company LKAB plans to move the entire town with its 18,000 people 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) to the east.[31][32][33]

One building which will be moved during the relocation is Kiruna Church, a Gothic Revival building built in 1912. Many of the town's other buildings, however, will instead be demolished and rebuilt at a new location by LKAB.[32]

Gold edit

In the European Union, Sweden is the second largest gold producer after Finland. Sweden may also have large amounts of gold that could be mined in the future.[4][34]

The name of Swedish mining company Boliden AB comes from the Boliden mine, near Skellefteå, where gold was found in 1924. The Boliden mine was once Europe's largest and richest gold mine, but since 1967 that mine is no longer active. Nevertheless, Boliden AB remains a major producer of gold in Sweden, because their polymetallic mines can produce as much as 2,000 kilograms per year.[35] Some gold is commonly recovered from copper mines in Sweden and Finland.[36]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Jonsson, Erik; Troll, Valentin R.; Högdahl, Karin; Harris, Chris; Weis, Franz; Nilsson, Katarina P.; Skelton, Alasdair (10 April 2013). "Magmatic origin of giant 'Kiruna-type' apatite-iron-oxide ores in Central Sweden". Scientific Reports. 3 (1): 1644. doi:10.1038/srep01644. ISSN 2045-2322. PMC 3622134. PMID 23571605.
  2. ^ Publications, USA International Business (7 February 2007). Sweden Mineral & Mining Sector Investment and Business Guide. Int'l Business Publications. ISBN 9781433047954. {{cite book}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  3. ^ "Investment opportunities in Fennoscandian Shield" (PDF). Via Västerbotten Investment Agency. 2012.
  4. ^ a b "Golden prospect in Europe" (PDF).
  5. ^ "Investment opportunities in mining North Sweden" (PDF). Via Västerbotten Investment Agency. November 2009.
  6. ^ "Falun". Invest in Dalarna. 10 October 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  7. ^ "Falu Mine: where Sweden's cottages get their colour – Routes North". Routes North. 14 October 2016. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  8. ^ Bohstrom, Philippe (11 May 2016). "3600-year-old Swedish Axes Were Made With Copper From Cyprus". Haaretz. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  9. ^ "Copper: A World Trade in 3000 BC? - Eye Of The Psychic". Eye Of The Psychic. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  10. ^ "1600-talet – Storhetstiden". Falu Gruva (in Swedish). Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  11. ^ "Sweden Minerals Strategy - For sustainable use of Sweden's mineral resources that creates growth throughout the country". Swedish Official Government.
  12. ^ "Technical Glossary of Ironworking Terms". University of Kent at Canterbury. Retrieved 10 July 2018. Bowl furnace A furnace consisting of an open or covered bowl-shaped depression in the ground, which may or may not be lined with ceramic or a layer of refractory stones.
  13. ^ a b Böethius, B. (1958). "Swedish iron and steel, 1600-1955". Scandinavian Economic History Review. 6 (2): 144–175. doi:10.1080/03585522.1958.10411402. In the Middle Ages the Swedish iron industry belonged to the eastern branch of iron production, in which the 'bowl' furnace developed, not into the open hearths of the English bloomery type, but into 'shaft' furnaces. The most important product was known as osmund, a kind of malleable iron which was forged by hand in small pieces, weighing 250-300 grammes and suited to the needs of simple village smithies.
  14. ^ "isbn:0520267583 - Sök på Google" (in Swedish). Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  15. ^ ABLOY, ASSA. "Lock springs". historicallocks.com. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  16. ^ Naum, Magdalena; Nordin, Jonas M. (20 February 2013). Scandinavian Colonialism and the Rise of Modernity: Small Time Agents in a Global Arenas. p. 56. ISBN 978-1461462026. Retrieved 10 July 2018. It is clear that Swedish iron-making peasants were connected to iron markets beyond Sweden from an early date, with German merchants in Stockholm acting as intermediaries.
  17. ^ "The history of Swedish iron and steel industry". The history of Swedish steel industry - Jernkontoret. Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  18. ^ a b "Production". Production - Jernkontoret. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  19. ^ Karlborm, Rolf (1968). "Sweden iron ore export to Germany". Scandinavian Economic History Review. 16 (2): 171–175. doi:10.1080/03585522.1968.10411499.
  20. ^ a b c d Blåhed, Hanna; Sebastián, Miguel San (2 June 2021). ""If the reindeer die, everything dies": The mental health of a Sámi community exposed to a mining project in Swedish Sápmi". International Journal of Circumpolar Health. 80 (1). doi:10.1080/22423982.2021.1935132. PMC 8259850. PMID 34219614.   Text has been copied from this source, which is available under a Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.
  21. ^ Alexander Perez, Alberto (2014). "2014 Mineral yearbook" (PDF).
  22. ^ "Swedish ore mines". www.sgu.se. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  23. ^ Brief Outline of the Metallic Mineral Resources of Sweden. na. 1975. ISBN 9789171580849.
  24. ^ "isbn:1433047950 - Sök på Google" (in Swedish). Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  25. ^ "isbn:1443855871 - Sök på Google" (in Swedish). Retrieved 8 June 2018.
  26. ^ "Swedish Iron Ore Going Strong". Investing News Network. 23 May 2013. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  27. ^ "iron ore mining equipment in sweden". bluteam.eu. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  28. ^ "New record for Swedish ore production". www.sgu.se. Retrieved 1 June 2018.
  29. ^ "Sweden: Beowulf Mining seeks to mine in indigenous Sámi territory despite government refusal of its application, incl. co. AGM responses". Business & Human Rights Resource Centre. 14 September 2020. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  30. ^ "Beowulf Mining shares soar on Swedish mining hopes". UK Investor Magazine. 3 December 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2022.
  31. ^ Rathi, Akshat. "A Swedish mining company is moving an entire town of 18,000 people—including its buildings—to a new location". Quartz. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  32. ^ a b Perry, Francesca (30 July 2015). "Kiruna: the arctic city being knocked down and relocated two miles away". the Guardian. Retrieved 9 June 2018.
  33. ^ "Plans take shape to move the city of Kiruna" (PDF). 22 May 2014.
  34. ^ "Sustainable gold mining in Europe" (PDF). Euromines.
  35. ^ "isbn:1411336712 - Sök på Google" (in Swedish). Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  36. ^ Weston, Rae (13 May 2013). Gold (Routledge Revivals): A World Survey. Routledge. ISBN 9781136223310.

External links edit

  •   Media related to Mining in Sweden at Wikimedia Commons

January 01, 1970
mining, sweden, mining, industry, sweden, history, dating, back, years, kiruna, iron, mine, kiruna, norrbotten, county, historically, sweden, most, famous, mine, copper, falun, mine, dalarna, which, made, significant, contribution, swedish, economy, several, c. The mining industry in Sweden has a history dating back 6 000 years Kiruna iron ore mine in Kiruna Norrbotten County Historically Sweden s most famous mine is the copper Falun Mine in Dalarna which made a significant contribution to the Swedish economy for several centuries Sweden today is one of the largest sources of iron ore in Europe with approximately 90 of Europe s iron and 5 of the world s iron reserves 1 Contents 1 Geology 2 Copper 3 Iron 3 1 History 3 2 21st century 3 3 Impact on people and the environment 4 Gold 5 See also 6 References 7 External linksGeology editMost of Sweden s landmass is geologically part of the Baltic Shield which also covers Fennoscandia and northwest parts of Russia The Baltic Shield has the oldest rock in Europe and is one of the largest and most active mining areas on the European continent Most Swedish mines are in the Baltic Shield 2 The shield because of its resemblance to the Canadian Shield and cratons in South Africa is also a source of gold and diamonds 3 4 Copper editSweden has a long history of mining dating back thousands of years Sweden s earliest mining company was Stora Kopparberg which operated on the copper Falun Mine 5 the most famous mine in Sweden 6 It was the source of the pigment falu red that painted castles churches and cottages still seen throughout Sweden 7 Income from the Falun mine funded almost all of Sweden s wars throughout its history citation needed nbsp Falun Mine In the Bronze Age most copper used in Europe originated in places such as Sicily and Iberia and the Levant For example a 3 600 year old copper axe was created in Sweden using copper from Cyprus 8 Europe s economy at the time relied heavily on copper the major component of bronze 9 Sweden s Falun copper mine opened about 1300 It was the largest copper mine in Sweden and produced two thirds of Europe s copper needs The largest industrial work place in Sweden at its peak in 1650 the mine produced as much as three kilotons of raw copper in that one year 10 11 Iron editHistory edit During the High Middle Ages Sweden s iron industry followed the eastern branch iron production using bowl furnace clarification needed 12 methods rather than the open hearth bloomery model favored in England 13 One of the most important Swedish iron products was osmund also called osmond iron small pieces made from pig iron weighing no more than 300 grams suited to the needs of village smithies Later production shifted to bar iron 13 14 15 It was also clear the Swedish iron smelters were connected to major iron markets outside Sweden where they also influenced osmund production sold by merchants from the Hanseatic League 16 Many German miners and merchants including some from Lubeck came into Sweden to join Sweden s mining industry Because of their influence iron exports from Sweden went primarily to Lubeck and Danzig in modern day Poland 17 Iron as the major component of steel is of major importance to mining 18 Sweden s iron was important to both Nazi Germany and the Allies of World War II 19 21st century edit The country holds 60 of Europe s identified iron ore deposits and is as of 2021 update responsible for 90 of Europe s iron ore extraction 20 and 5 of the world s reserves in 2014 21 22 23 In 2012 Sweden was one of the most active major mining countries in Europe 24 25 In the years up to 2013 Sweden s mines were producing around 80 million tons of ore in Sweden per year mostly from Kiruna Mine which in 2008 produced 27 5 million tons of iron 26 27 28 As of 2021 update the Swedish government intends to expand and strengthen Sweden s position as a mining nation 20 Crude steel produced in Sweden in 2017 4 9 million tons consisted of 1 3 scrap iron and 2 3 of pig iron made from iron ore 18 More than 96 of total ore production comes from the mines in the northern region known as Norrland Comprising 10 of the 12 active mines in the country these mines lie in Sapmi historically Lapland the traditional territory of the Sami 20 Impact on people and the environment edit In 2006 the British Swedish Beowulf Mining was granted an exploration licence in Jokkmokk municipality with the intention of exploiting the iron ore at a mine in the Gallok Kallak area known as the Kallak mine The region is used by the Sami community Jahkagasska tjiellde for reindeer herding as it is part of the natural migration route and they graze there all year round When drilling started in 2013 an anti mine movement developed consisting of environmental activists and the Sami community 20 This continues as of 2022 update The Swedish Government refused Beowulf Mining s application in February 2020 29 but in December 2021 the new Prime Minister of Sweden Magdalena Andersson said that Sweden needed more mines 30 The Kiruna Mine the largest iron ore mine pit in Europe plans to expand operations in the future The nearby town of Kiruna would be endangered however if iron ore is extracted beneath it which would cause instability in soil and building foundations In order to resolve this problem the mining company LKAB plans to move the entire town with its 18 000 people 3 kilometres 1 9 mi to the east 31 32 33 One building which will be moved during the relocation is Kiruna Church a Gothic Revival building built in 1912 Many of the town s other buildings however will instead be demolished and rebuilt at a new location by LKAB 32 Gold editIn the European Union Sweden is the second largest gold producer after Finland Sweden may also have large amounts of gold that could be mined in the future 4 34 The name of Swedish mining company Boliden AB comes from the Boliden mine near Skelleftea where gold was found in 1924 The Boliden mine was once Europe s largest and richest gold mine but since 1967 that mine is no longer active Nevertheless Boliden AB remains a major producer of gold in Sweden because their polymetallic mines can produce as much as 2 000 kilograms per year 35 Some gold is commonly recovered from copper mines in Sweden and Finland 36 See also editSwedish riksdaler Economy of Sweden Mineral industry of EuropeReferences edit Jonsson Erik Troll Valentin R Hogdahl Karin Harris Chris Weis Franz Nilsson Katarina P Skelton Alasdair 10 April 2013 Magmatic origin of giant Kiruna type apatite iron oxide ores in Central Sweden Scientific Reports 3 1 1644 doi 10 1038 srep01644 ISSN 2045 2322 PMC 3622134 PMID 23571605 Publications USA International Business 7 February 2007 Sweden Mineral amp Mining Sector Investment and Business Guide Int l Business Publications ISBN 9781433047954 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a first has generic name help Investment opportunities in Fennoscandian Shield PDF Via Vasterbotten Investment Agency 2012 a b Golden prospect in Europe PDF Investment opportunities in mining North Sweden PDF Via Vasterbotten Investment Agency November 2009 Falun Invest in Dalarna 10 October 2016 Retrieved 8 June 2018 Falu Mine where Sweden s cottages get their colour Routes North Routes North 14 October 2016 Retrieved 8 June 2018 Bohstrom Philippe 11 May 2016 3600 year old Swedish Axes Were Made With Copper From Cyprus Haaretz Retrieved 9 June 2018 Copper A World Trade in 3000 BC Eye Of The Psychic Eye Of The Psychic Retrieved 9 June 2018 1600 talet Storhetstiden Falu Gruva in Swedish Retrieved 9 June 2018 Sweden Minerals Strategy For sustainable use of Sweden s mineral resources that creates growth throughout the country Swedish Official Government Technical Glossary of Ironworking Terms University of Kent at Canterbury Retrieved 10 July 2018 Bowl furnace A furnace consisting of an open or covered bowl shaped depression in the ground which may or may not be lined with ceramic or a layer of refractory stones a b Boethius B 1958 Swedish iron and steel 1600 1955 Scandinavian Economic History Review 6 2 144 175 doi 10 1080 03585522 1958 10411402 In the Middle Ages the Swedish iron industry belonged to the eastern branch of iron production in which the bowl furnace developed not into the open hearths of the English bloomery type but into shaft furnaces The most important product was known as osmund a kind of malleable iron which was forged by hand in small pieces weighing 250 300 grammes and suited to the needs of simple village smithies isbn 0520267583 Sok pa Google in Swedish Retrieved 10 June 2018 ABLOY ASSA Lock springs historicallocks com Retrieved 10 June 2018 Naum Magdalena Nordin Jonas M 20 February 2013 Scandinavian Colonialism and the Rise of Modernity Small Time Agents in a Global Arenas p 56 ISBN 978 1461462026 Retrieved 10 July 2018 It is clear that Swedish iron making peasants were connected to iron markets beyond Sweden from an early date with German merchants in Stockholm acting as intermediaries The history of Swedish iron and steel industry The history of Swedish steel industry Jernkontoret Retrieved 8 June 2018 a b Production Production Jernkontoret Retrieved 9 June 2018 Karlborm Rolf 1968 Sweden iron ore export to Germany Scandinavian Economic History Review 16 2 171 175 doi 10 1080 03585522 1968 10411499 a b c d Blahed Hanna Sebastian Miguel San 2 June 2021 If the reindeer die everything dies The mental health of a Sami community exposed to a mining project in Swedish Sapmi International Journal of Circumpolar Health 80 1 doi 10 1080 22423982 2021 1935132 PMC 8259850 PMID 34219614 nbsp Text has been copied from this source which is available under a Attribution 4 0 International CC BY 4 0 licence Alexander Perez Alberto 2014 2014 Mineral yearbook PDF Swedish ore mines www sgu se Retrieved 1 June 2018 Brief Outline of the Metallic Mineral Resources of Sweden na 1975 ISBN 9789171580849 isbn 1433047950 Sok pa Google in Swedish Retrieved 8 June 2018 isbn 1443855871 Sok pa Google in Swedish Retrieved 8 June 2018 Swedish Iron Ore Going Strong Investing News Network 23 May 2013 Retrieved 1 June 2018 iron ore mining equipment in sweden bluteam eu Retrieved 1 June 2018 New record for Swedish ore production www sgu se Retrieved 1 June 2018 Sweden Beowulf Mining seeks to mine in indigenous Sami territory despite government refusal of its application incl co AGM responses Business amp Human Rights Resource Centre 14 September 2020 Retrieved 6 February 2022 Beowulf Mining shares soar on Swedish mining hopes UK Investor Magazine 3 December 2021 Retrieved 6 February 2022 Rathi Akshat A Swedish mining company is moving an entire town of 18 000 people including its buildings to a new location Quartz Retrieved 9 June 2018 a b Perry Francesca 30 July 2015 Kiruna the arctic city being knocked down and relocated two miles away the Guardian Retrieved 9 June 2018 Plans take shape to move the city of Kiruna PDF 22 May 2014 Sustainable gold mining in Europe PDF Euromines isbn 1411336712 Sok pa Google in Swedish Retrieved 10 June 2018 Weston Rae 13 May 2013 Gold Routledge Revivals A World Survey Routledge ISBN 9781136223310 External links edit nbsp Media related to Mining in Sweden at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mining in Sweden amp oldid 1199004018, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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