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Falun mine, Falun, Dalarna, Sweden

Latitude: 60°35'53"N
Longitude: 15°36'47"E
Falu gruva

Copper mine with minor gold. Mining probably started around the 11th century and was terminated in 1992. In the 17th century two thirds of the world's copper came from Falun mine. Selenium was discovered in sulphides from Falun mine.

Note on the name: Falun is the town, "Falu" is an old genitive form that has survived until today and is kind of special; "Falu mine" (also found on labels) is a direct translation from the Swedish "Falu gruva" thus meaning "the mine of Falun".

Total amount of ore extracted during the life span of the mine was approximately 30.000.000 t with a yield of 400.000 t blister copper, 500.000 t zinc, 160.000 t lead, 380 t of silver and 5 t of gold. Gold, silver, lead and sulphur was produced from the year 1790, but zinc much later.

Quite a number of orebodies and mines exist, which today often is hard to distinguish from each other.
Following shafts are known;
Gustavs shaft
Lovisa shaft
Adolfs shaft (started 1745)
Fredriks shaft (started 1716)
Oscars shaft
Drottning shaft (Queens-)
Meijenholz shaft
Oscars shaft
Rålambs shaft
Creutz shaft
Wredes shaft

Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities
Actinolite
'Allanite'
Almandine
Anthophyllite
Bismuth
Bismuthinite
Botryogen (TL)
Cannizzarite
Cassiterite
Chalcanthite
Chalcopyrite
'Chlorite Group'
Chloritoid
Chondrodite
Clausthalite
Copiapite
Cordierite
Cuprite
Epsomite
'Fahlunite'
Ferronigerite-2N1S
Friedrichite
Gahnite (TL)
Galena
Galenobismutite
Geocronite
Gold
var: Electrum
Goslarite
Halotrichite
Hisingerite
Ikunolite
Junoite
Laitakarite
Lillianite
Magnetite
Melanterite
Nevskite
Nordströmite (TL)
Pekoite
'Platynite'
Prehnite
Pyrite
Pyrrhotite
Quartz
Rutile
Sphalerite
Spinel
var: Pleonaste

Talc
Tennantite
Weibullite (TL)
Weissite
'Wittite' (TL)


55 entries listed. 46 valid minerals. 4 type localities (valid minerals). 1 type locality (other).

Localities in this Region

Sweden

The above list contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

- Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 618, 625.
- Schumacher, J.C., Schäfer, K. & Seifert, F. (1987): Lamellar nigerite in Zn-rich spinel from the Falun deposit, Sweden. Contribution to Mineralogy and Petrology. 95: 182-190
- L. Lindeström (2002): The Environmental History of the Falun Mine. ISBN 91-631-3536-1.



External Links


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Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2013. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them. Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. Mindat does not offer minerals for sale. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.
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