Mining

A historic mining area with one of the world’s most modern mines

The Great Copper Mountain in Falun operated for a millennium and the history of the Bergslagen region, covering the municipalities of southern Dalarna, has medieval traditions of mining for iron, base metals, silver and tungsten. Today, Sweden has the richest mineral fields in Europe.

Sweden has the richest mineral fields in Europe, and is the dominant internal EU supplier of iron ore, the second largest supplier of silver, gold, lead and zinc and the third largest producer of copper. Sweden offers world-leading mining expertise, excellent metals and mining infrastructure and a long history of political and economic stability.

Sweden’s minerals strategy aims towards sustainable use of Sweden’s mineral resources that create growth throughout the country. The country has good geological prerequisites, well-developed infrastructure, and efficient institutional preconditions as well as a transparent process. Furthermore, Sweden has an innovation climate that supports the effective and sustainable exploration and production of minerals. The Swedish government, through Sweden’s minerals strategy, emphasizes the importance of fulfilment of Sweden’s environmental quality objectives which include the Good-Quality Groundwater, A Non-toxic Environment, Limited Climate Impact, and a Good Build Environment Objective.

The world´s most productive underground zinc mine

The Bergslagen region is the traditional mining region of Sweden. Today, Bergslagen is one of the country’s three mining regions, rich in both iron ore and non-ferrous ores. Iron ore is the dominant mineral resource in the region, but the region is also home to the Boliden Garpenberg mine – one of the world’s most modern mines. It is also Sweden’s oldest mining area still in operation. Complex ores containing zinc, lead, silver, copper and gold are mined here and it is the world’s most productive underground zinc mine.

According to the latest investigation carried out by SGU, Geological Survey of Sweden, high levels of critical raw materials such as rare earth elements, phosphorus and tungsten are found in old mining waste in Bergslagen. Global demand for critical metals is growing to cater for the increasing need for electrification as one of the key measures to tackle climate change with a fossil-free future.

A net-zero world requires six times more minerals by 2040.

Since 2005, the number of exploration licenses has increased by several hundred per cent in the region of Bergslagen, as both European and global mining and exploration companies have been investing in the region.

Mining and metallurgy R&D

Dalarna as an integral part of the Berslagen region has strong heritage of the metal mining industry and plays an important role in sustainable mining thanks to its long-standing mining tradition and advanced geological technology. Over time, Dalarna has strengthened its position with a well-developed infrastructure to support advanced mining and metallurgy research and development.

Technological developments at the Great Copper Mountain in Falun had a profound influence on mining globally for two centuries. Today, Sweden is home to world-class mining companies such as LKAB and Boliden, as well as world-leading equipment suppliers for underground mining such as Atlas Copco and Sandvik.

Why Dalarna?

Sweden offers world-leading mining expertise, excellent metals and mining infrastructure and a long history of political and economic stability. The large mineral deposits in the region, historically and today, suggest that there may be several large high-grade deposits yet to be discovered.

• Easy access to information
• Under-explored mining area
• Extensive mining experience
• Excellent mining infrastructure
• Favorable investment climate

Please contact us for information about investment opportunities in Dalarna!