Mining in Sweden

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.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=usLQr0SZbWoC&q=sweden+fennoscandia+shield+mining&pg=PA43|title=Sweden Mineral & Mining Sector Investment and Business Guide|last=Publications|first=USA International Business|date=2007-02-07|publisher=Int'l Business Publications|isbn=9781433047954|language=en}} The shield, because of its resemblance to the Canadian Shield and cratons in South Africa, is also a source of gold and diamonds.{{Cite web|url=http://viavasterbotten.se/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Fennoscandian-shield1.pdf|title=Investment opportunities in Fennoscandian Shield|date=2012|website=Via Västerbotten Investment Agency}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.euromines.org/system/files/publications/golden-prospects-europe.pdf|title=Golden prospect in Europe}}

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,{{Cite web|url=http://viavasterbotten.se/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Mining-in-Sweden-and-V%C3%A4sterbotten111.pdf|title=Investment opportunities in mining North Sweden|date=November 2009|website=Via Västerbotten Investment Agency}} the most famous mine in Sweden.{{Cite news|url=http://www.investindalarna.se/municipalities/falun/|title=Falun |date=2016-10-10|work=Invest in Dalarna|access-date=2018-06-08|language=en-US}} It was the source of the pigment falu red that painted castles, churches and cottages still seen throughout Sweden.{{Cite news|url=https://www.routesnorth.com/things-to-do-in-sweden/falu-mine-where-swedens-cottages-get-their-colour/|title=Falu Mine: where Sweden's cottages get their colour – Routes North|date=2016-10-14|work=Routes North|access-date=2018-06-08|language=en-US}} Income from the Falun mine funded almost all of Sweden's wars throughout its history.{{cn|date=February 2022}}

File:Falu gruva (by Pudelek) 2.JPG

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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.haaretz.com/archaeology/3600-year-old-swedish-axes-made-with-cypriot-copper-1.5382210|title=3600-year-old Swedish Axes Were Made With Copper From Cyprus| last=Bohstrom| first=Philippe|date=2016-05-11|work=Haaretz| access-date=2018-06-09|language=en}} Europe's economy at the time relied heavily on copper, the major component of bronze.{{Cite news|url=https://www.eyeofthepsychic.com/copper/|title=Copper: A World Trade in 3000 BC? - Eye Of The Psychic|work=Eye Of The Psychic|access-date=2018-06-09|language=en-US}}

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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.falugruva.se/historia/historik-falu-gruva/1600-talet-storhetstiden/|title=1600-talet – Storhetstiden|work=Falu Gruva|access-date=2018-06-09|language=sv-SE}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.government.se/contentassets/78bb6c6324bf43158d7c153ebf2a4611/swedens-minerals-strategy.-for-sustainable-use-of-swedens-mineral-resources-that-creates-growth-throughout-the-country-complete-version|title=Sweden Minerals Strategy - For sustainable use of Sweden's mineral resources that creates growth throughout the country|website=Swedish Official Government}}

During the High Middle Ages, Sweden's iron industry followed the "eastern branch" iron production, using bowl furnace{{Clarify|reason=Bowl?|date=March 2022}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.era.anthropology.ac.uk/Era_Resources/Era/P-C_Museum/technical.html |title=Technical Glossary of Ironworking Terms |publisher=University of Kent at Canterbury |quote=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.|accessdate=July 10, 2018}} methods rather than the open hearth "bloomery" model favored in England.{{Cite journal|title=Swedish iron and steel, 1600-1955|journal = Scandinavian Economic History Review|volume = 6|issue = 2|pages = 144–175|last=Böethius|first=B.|date=1958|quote=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.|doi=10.1080/03585522.1958.10411402|doi-access=free}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0520267583|title=isbn:0520267583 - Sök på Google|language=sv-US|access-date=2018-06-10}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.historicallocks.com/en/site/h/locks-and-technology/springs-in-locks/lock-springs/|title=Lock springs|last=ABLOY|first=ASSA|website=historicallocks.com|language=en|access-date=2018-06-10}}

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.{{Cite book| url= https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1461462029| title=Scandinavian Colonialism and the Rise of Modernity: Small Time Agents in a Global Arenas|quote=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.| page=56| isbn=978-1461462026|access-date=2018-07-10|last1=Naum|first1=Magdalena|last2=Nordin|first2=Jonas M.|date=2013-02-20| publisher=Springer}} 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.jernkontoret.se/en/the-steel-industry/the-history-of-swedish-steel-industry/|title=The history of Swedish iron and steel industry|work=The history of Swedish steel industry - Jernkontoret|access-date=2018-06-08|language=en}}

Iron, as the major component of steel, is of major importance to mining. Sweden's iron was important to both Nazi Germany and the Allies of World War II.{{Cite journal|title=Sweden iron ore export to Germany|journal = Scandinavian Economic History Review|volume = 16|issue = 2|pages = 171–175| last=Karlborm| first=Rolf| doi=10.1080/03585522.1968.10411499|year = 1968|doi-access = free}}

The country holds 60% of Europe's identified iron ore deposits and is {{as of|lc=yes|2021}} responsible for 90% of Europe's iron ore extraction, and 5% of the world's reserves in 2014.{{Cite web|url=https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/country/2014/myb3-2014-sw.pdf|title=2014 Mineral yearbook|last=Alexander Perez|first=Alberto|date=2014}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sgu.se/en/mineral-resources/swedish-ore-mines/|title=Swedish ore mines|website=www.sgu.se|language=en|access-date=2018-06-01}}{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k4tOAQAAMAAJ|title=Brief Outline of the Metallic Mineral Resources of Sweden|date=1975|publisher=na|isbn=9789171580849|language=en}} In 2012, Sweden was one of the most active major mining countries in Europe.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1433047950|title=isbn:1433047950 - Sök på Google|language=sv-US|access-date=2018-06-08}}{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1443855871|title=isbn:1443855871 - Sök på Google|language=sv-US|access-date=2018-06-08}} 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.{{Cite news|url=https://investingnews.com/daily/resource.../iron.../swedish-iron-ore-going-strong/|title=Swedish Iron Ore Going Strong |date=2013-05-23|work=Investing News Network|access-date=2018-06-01|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=http://bluteam.eu/29658/iron-ore-mining-equipment-in-sweden/|title=iron ore mining equipment in sweden|website=bluteam.eu|language=en|access-date=2018-06-01}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.sgu.se/en/about-sgu/news/2014/april/new-record-for-swedish-iron-ore-production/|title=New record for Swedish ore production|website=www.sgu.se|language=en|access-date=2018-06-01}}

{{as of|2021}} the Swedish government intends to expand and strengthen Sweden's position as a mining nation. 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.{{Cite news|url=https://www.jernkontoret.se/en/the-steel-industry/industry-facts-and-statistics/production/|title=Production|work=Production - Jernkontoret|access-date=2018-06-09|language=en}}

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{{cite journal | last1=Blåhed | first1=Hanna | last2=Sebastián | first2=Miguel San | title="If the reindeer die, everything dies": The mental health of a Sámi community exposed to a mining project in Swedish Sápmi | journal=International Journal of Circumpolar Health | volume=80 | issue=1 | date=2 June 2021 | pmid=34219614 | doi=10.1080/22423982.2021.1935132 | page=| pmc=8259850 }} 50px Text has been copied from this source, which is available under a [https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0 Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)] licence.

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. This continues {{as of|2022|lc=yes}}. The Swedish Government refused Beowulf Mining's application in February 2020 {{cite web | title=Sweden: Beowulf Mining seeks to mine in indigenous Sámi territory despite government refusal of its application, incl. co. AGM responses| date=14 September 2020 | website=Business & Human Rights Resource Centre | url=https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/sweden-uk-company-seeks-to-mine-in-indigenous-s%C3%A1mi-territory-including-company-response/ | access-date=6 February 2022}} but in December 2021, the new Prime Minister of Sweden, Magdalena Andersson, said that Sweden needed more mines.{{cite web | title=Beowulf Mining shares soar on Swedish mining hopes | website=UK Investor Magazine | date=3 December 2021 | url=https://ukinvestormagazine.co.uk/beowulf-mining-shares-soar-on-swedish-mining-hopes/ | access-date=6 February 2022}}

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 {{Convert|3|km|mi}} to the east.{{Cite news|url=https://qz.com/991623/a-swedish-mining-company-is-moving-the-entire-town-of-kiruna-with-18000-people-and-several-buildings-to-a-new-location/|title=A Swedish mining company is moving an entire town of 18,000 people—including its buildings—to a new location|last=Rathi|first=Akshat|work=Quartz|access-date=2018-06-09|language=en-US}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/jul/30/kiruna-the-arctic-city-being-knocked-down-and-relocated-two-miles-away|title=Kiruna: the arctic city being knocked down and relocated two miles away|last=Perry|first=Francesca|date=2015-07-30|website=the Guardian|language=en|access-date=2018-06-09}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.palazzobembo.org/var/cat_file_White_Arkitekter_Kiruna_0514.pdf|title=Plans take shape to move the city of Kiruna|date=22 May 2014}}

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.

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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.euromines.org/files/publications/sustainable-gold-mining-europe-english-language-version.pdf|title=Sustainable gold mining in Europe|website=Euromines}}

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.{{Cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=1411336712|title=isbn:1411336712 - Sök på Google|language=sv-US|access-date=2018-06-10}} Some gold is commonly recovered from copper mines in Sweden and Finland.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fuzURnJyCgC&q=sweden+gold+mining&pg=PA209|title=Gold (Routledge Revivals): A World Survey|last=Weston|first=Rae|date=2013-05-13|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781136223310|language=en}}

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Sweden is estimated host more than a quarter of Europe's uranium resources.{{Cite web |url=https://www.regeringen.se/pressmeddelanden/2024/02/klimat--och-miljoministern-beslutar-om-en-utredning-for-att-avskaffa-forbudet-mot-uranutvinning/ |title=Klimat- och miljöministern beslutar om en utredning för att avskaffa förbudet mot uranutvinning |date=2024-02-23 |access-date=2024-06-20 |website=Regeringskansliet |language=Swedish}} Uranium mining is prohibited in Sweden since 2018. In February 2024 the Ministry of Climate and Environment announced an investigation to determine whether to reverse the ban.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-29 |title=The Swedish Government plans to abolish Sweden's ban on uranium mining {{!}} Enerdata |url=https://www.enerdata.net/publications/daily-energy-news/swedish-government-plans-abolish-swedens-ban-uranium-mining.html |access-date=2024-06-23 |website=www.enerdata.net |language=en}} Oviken and other areas around Storsjön in Jämtland are known to have uranium resources.{{Cite news |title=Stor oro för uranbrytning i Jämtland när regeringen vill ta bort förbudet |url=https://sverigesradio.se/avsnitt/stor-oro-for-uranbrytning-i-jamtland-nar-regeringen-vill-ta-bort-forbudet |date=2024-05-02 |work=Sveriges Radio |language=Swedish}}

• Swedish riksdaler
• Economy of Sweden
• Mineral industry of Europe

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