Central Norway

High-potential brownfield assets in central Norway

HESSJØGRUVA Cu-Zn-Co VMS PROJECT

  • Located in the historic Røros mining district where more than 12 mines were operated over 333 years (1644 to 1977).
  • 6.5Mt of ore at average grades of 2.7% Cu and 4.2% Zn, but 250-300kt of zinc was not recovered by historical mining.
  • Operations ceased due to low metal prices, not lack of resources.
  • Mining company Røros Kobberverk declared bankruptcy in 1977 and there has been no further mining to the present day.
  • Excellent local infrastructure linked to regional and national road and rail networks and air routes.
  • Existing plant site with buildings and tailings facility, and grid power available.
  • Regional and local support for resumption of mining.
  • A total of 12,035m drilled in 66 boreholes at Hessjøgruva in 1970–1977.
  • Before the final drill programme at Hessjøgruva in 1977, Røros Kobberverk stated an unclassified mineral resource of 3.3Mt at 1.2% Cu and 1.7% Zn.
  • NGU (2007) stated an unclassified resource of 2.99 Mt at 1.7% Cu and 1.4% Zn
  • Thickest and highest-grade intercept reported from historical drilling is 14.5m (approx. true thickness) at 4.35% Cu + 1.3% Zn (or 4.8% Cu equivalent). Mineralization remains open down-dip.
  • The main Trondheim-Røros-Oslo road and railway pass through the project area. Røros has an airport.

Former smelter in Røros, now the local museum

Process plant at Kongensgruva, 11km east of Hessjøgruva

LØKKEN Cu-Zn-Co VMS PROJECT

  • During the period 1904-1987, Orkla Grube AB operated the Løkken mine and completed local and regional exploration in the wider Løkken area including the earliest forms of electromagnetic (EM) surveying.
  • The Løkken mine is one of the largest ophiolite-hosted Cyprus-type VMS deposits (by tonnage) to have been developed in the world, producing an estimated 24 Mt at 2.3% Cu and 1.8% Zn.
  • Ore was railed to the coastal port of Thamshavn (25km) for shipping.
  • Mining ceased in 1987 as a response to the low copper price.
  • In the Løkken mine, more than 70,000m of drilling was completed underground.
  • Outside the Løkken mine area, 298 diamond drillholes for a total of 45,067m were drilled by Orkla Grube AB, with 95 holes for a total of 20,846m completed at the Høydal deposit area.
  • Excellent road links to Trondheim (65km) where there is an international airport.

Former processing facilities at Løkken