Flåt Nickel Mines, Flåt, Evje og Hornnes, Agder, Norwayi

Regional Level Types
Flåt Nickel Mines	Group of Mines
Flåt	Farm
Evje og Hornnes	Municipality
Agder	County
Norway	Country

INCREASING DEMAND FOR NICKEL

When the demand for nickel increased in the second half of the 19th century, several copper deposits hosted in amphibolite were tested for the presence of nickel.

In 1857 nickel was found in the copper ore of a small copper mine, locally called the Kobberhola, situated at the Myklåsen, not far from a tiny hamlet by the name of Evje. After three years of prospecting, starting in 1869, mining commenced in 1872. During three periods of mining, 2,8 million tonnes of ore were mined.

THE LARGEST IN EUROPE

During a short period the Flåt nickel mine was the largest in its kind in the world, and somewhat longer the largest in Europe. From this ore 20.000 tonnes of nickel and 14.500 tonnes of copper were extracted. In addition some cobalt, gold, silver, platinum and palladium were extracted. During the Second World War the German occupants exhausted the mine, and the mine was closed for good in 1946.

The mine reached a depth of 422 m, actually 20 m below the sea level. An extension of the ore body is present at greater depth, but it is not known if this deposit is economic.

THE EVJE NIKKELVERK SMELTER

The smelter near the Fennefossen waterfall near the centre of Evje produced an intermediate product, comprising a mix of nickel and copper. This was called "nikkelmatte". The "nikkelmatte" was sent to Kristiansand for further processing in a factory called Falconbridge, a Canadian company involved in the mining and processing of ore in the Sudbury area.

This factory still exists under the name Glencore Nikkel AS, and is a major producer of nickel in the world. However, all the ore is mined and processed elsewhere and the facty processes only the intermediate product, the "nikkelmatte", also called matte.

Here is a nice presentation of the refining processes: http://www.nikkelverk.no/no/OmOss/produksjon/Pages/flytskjema.aspx
Nickel, copper and cobalt are the main products, but additionally gold and platina group metals are produced.

THE FERTILIZER PLANT

During WW2 the Germans constructed a fertilizer plant to extract an apatite concentrate from the flotation tailings. With a newly developed flotation proces the apatite could be separated. These efforts were hampered by the availability and quality of the necessary chemicals. (Monen 2016, book 2, s. 99)

However, during two years, 200.000 tons of slam were processed, yielding 6000 tons of apatite concentrate with a 27,5% phospahte content. This concentrate was subsequently sent to the Lysaker Kjemiske Fabrikk for further processing.

This project was an economic failure and the plant was subsequently closed when the war ended.

THE START OF THE GOLDEN DAYS OF PEGMATITE MINING

The nickel mine is directly responable for the extensive mining of quartz, feldspar and other minerals in this municipality and neighbouring municipality Iveland. At first sand was used in the smelting processes, but in 1844 it was decided to use "krystallkvarts", in plain language quartz.

It was already known that in the area around the mine several pegmatites outcropped. Access to plentiful of quartz was thereby secured. The mining of feldspar was to begin with not economic, due to the high cost of transportation to the nearest harbour, Kristiansand. When in 1896 a railroad connection with Kristiansand was opened, the mining of feldspar became economic.

Around 150 feldspar/quartz quarries and mines have been in operation in the Evje og Hornnes municipality in the period from 1844 and now. Today only two quarries are in operation, mining small amounts of ultra pure feldspar for dental applications.

Thanks to the Flåt nickel mine and all the pegmatite quarries, Evje could grow out to become a regional center and a popular place for tourists.

During the period 2004-2012 the upper parts of the old mine were accessible for tourists, but due to high expenses the proprietor had to shut down the mine.

The mine is located near Evje Mineral Trail, and the road is signposted.

The coordinates are for the entrance of the old Flåt nickel mine. The new mine was 245 m SSW of this one.

For collectors who can read norwegian, there is a set of 3 books available about the history of this mine, written by local historian Sigmund Monen: Gruvedrift og Nikkelindustri i Setesdal - Arbeidsfolk fortell m.m.

All in all around 1500 pages and plenty of pictures! It can be obtained by contacting the Evje og Hornnes municipality at: post@e-h.kommune.no


Coordinates © Kartverket - https://www.kartverket.no

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References