Huge underground limestone mine famous for excellent calcite crystals with an astonishing variety of habits (including various types of twin laws). The calcite crystals occur in voids (crystal caves) that can reach up to about 40 m in length and that can be walked or crawled through.
Previously there were two mines, the Dalen mine and the closely neighbouring Kjørholt mine; the latter was later bought by the first one. The mine presently (2009) has reached a depth of about 300 m.
An excellent selection of minerals from this mine is exhibited at the Norsk Bergverksmuseum in Kongsberg.
References:
- Wiik, Geir H. (1992): Dalen-Portland. STEIN 19 (29), 109-117
- Robinson, G. W. & King, V. T. (1993): What’s New in Minerals ? Annual world summary of mineral discoveries covering april 1992 through april 1993. Mineralogical Record 24: 393
- Nordrum, Fred Steinar (1993): Dalen-Kjørholt gruve. STEIN 20 (2), 98-99
- Nordrum, Fred Steinar (1993): De siste års mineralfunn i Dalen- Kjørholt gruve. STEIN 20 (2), 100-111
- Nordrum, F.S. (1993): Die Dalen-Kjörholt-Kalksteingrube in Süd-Norwegen, ein neuer Fundort für exzellente Calcitstufen. Mineralien-Welt, 4 (5), 49-56.
- Garmo, T. (1995): Über die neuen Mineralfunde 1995 in Norwegen. Mineralien-Welt 6 (3), 25-27
- Nordrum, F.S. (2000). Nyfunn av mineraler i Norge 1999-2000. Bergverksmuseets Skrift 17:59-63
- Nordrum, F.S. (2001): Noen funn av mineraler i Norge 2000-2001. STEIN 28 (2): 13- 19
- Nordrum, F.S. (2001): Neue Mineralienfunde aus Norwegen. Mineralien-Welt, 12 (5), 62-64
- Nordrum, F.S. (2002): Nyfunn av mineraler i Norge 2001-2002. STEIN 29 (2): 4-10
- Nordrum, F.S. (2002): Mineralogische Neuigkeiten aus Norwegen. Mineralien-Welt, 13 (5), 56-59.
- Nordrum, F. S. (2004): Nyfunn av mineraler i Norge 2003-2004. STEIN 31 (2), 36-44
- Nordrum, F. S. (2007): Nyfunn av mineraler i Norge 2006-2007. STEIN 34 (2), 14-26
- Nordrum, F.S. (2008a): Nyfunn av mineraler i Norge 2007-2008. STEIN 35 (2), 8-20 [on the find of "amber calcite"]
- Nordum, F.S. (2008b): Dalen-Kjørholt kalksteinsgruve store drusefunn 2007-2008. STEIN 35 (3), 8-15
- Nordrum, F.S. (2008): Neuer Calcit-Fund aus Dalen-Kjörholt/ Norwegen. Mineralien-Welt, 19 (2), 32-33.
Mineral List:19 entries listed. 15 valid minerals.
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