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THE ORE DATABASE
Deposit Area 124 - 002
(Last updated 10.jun.2022)

Name of Deposit Area : Romsåsen
(Object Id : 0124,002,00,00)
Location
County : Østfold (01) Municipality : Askim (0124)
Map 1:50000: Askim (1914-2) Map 1:250000: Oslo
Marking point: Longitude: 11.1071620 Latitude: 59.5886590
EU89-UTM Zone 32 (Coordinates IS confirmed)
X-coord: 618975 m. Y-coord: 6607489 m.
Commodity
Main Type: Ferroalloys (Cr,Ni,Co,V,Mo,W) Sub Type: Nickel
Element(s): Ni Cu Co
Production
Activity: Mining Reserves:
Prod. method: Open pit and underground mining Production: 13,2 thousand tons
Prod. status: Disused, closed Volume of dump:

Importance
Public: Little Importance (reg. 18.02.2015)
Economical: Minor interest , (Confirmed 23.nov.2001 by Jan Sverre Sandstad)
Historical: Yes , (Confirmed 29.mai.2001 by Lars Petter Nilsson)

Products
Element/product Crude ore grade or quality
CU 0.4 %
NI 1.07 %

Ownership
Type of ownership Owner Land- and title number
Concessionary (Mining rights) Askim kommune establ. 16.04.1998
Concessionary (Mining rights) GEXCO A.S status 31.03.1998

Mineralization
Era: Proterozoic Period: Paleoproterozoic
Dating: Method:
Genesis: Orthomagmatic formation Form: Irregular
Main texture: Structureless Min. distribution: Semi-massive (20-50 % ore minerals)
Main grain size: Fine grained (< 1 mm) Main alteration: No country rock alteration
Strike/Dip: Direction:
Plunge:
Stratigraphic classification of host rock
Era: Proterozoic Period: Paleoproterozoic
Province: East Norwegian Basement Province
Geotec.unit: Østfold Complex
Tectonic complex:
Igneous complex:
Group: Formation:

Mineralogy
Relationship Mineral Amount
Gangue mineral Plagioclase Major mineral (>10%)
Gangue mineral Pyroxene Major mineral (>10%)
Gangue mineral Biotite Subordinate mineral (1-10%)
Gangue mineral Quartz Accessory mineral (<1%)
Ore mineral Pyrrhotite Major mineral (>10%)
Ore mineral Cobalt pentlandite Subordinate mineral (1-10%)
Ore mineral Pentlandite Subordinate mineral (1-10%)
Ore mineral Chalcopyrite Subordinate mineral (1-10%)

Lithology:
Relationship Rock Origin
Host rock diorite Intrusive
Original rock :Diorite

Structures
Location: Type: Orientation(360 gr.): Relation to min.:
Host rock Rock contact Syn-mineralisation

Information(s) in free text format
Description
Romsås The Romsås nickel deposit, though itself not impressive by size, is by far the largest of the nickel sulphide occurrences in Indre Østfold. It is situated within a minor quartz noritic body of assumed Mesoproterozoic age surrounded by migmatitic gneisses of presumed sedimentary origin on the regional map of Berthelsen et al. (1996) interpreted as Mesoproterozoic greywacke-dominated metasediments (Bingen et al. 2005). Neither the Romsås body, nor any of the other nickel sulphide ore-bearing mafic bodies in Østfold, are dated to the knowledge of the present writer. Therefore, the 1555 +3/-2 Ma Follum dioritic intrusion in the Begna sector in the NW is the one closest comparable both in space and time to the mafic intrusions in Indre Østfold. The Romsås deposit is most famous for its orbicular norite, developed mostly along the western margin of the intrusion, but also in the inner parts of the body. The orbicular norite is partly cut by the sulphide ore zones and is partly cutting these (Støren 1909). No exhaustive modern studies are undertaken on the Romsås body with its sulphide mineralization, but a wealth of classic works, mainly descriptive, both on this one and other nickel bearing intrusions in Norway exist from professor Vogt and other Norwegian pioneer geologists. The most recent description of Romsås is that found in the review paper by Boyd & Nixon (1985).
Historical significance
History of mining The company Roms Nikkelverk (Roms Nickelworks) commenced mining on the Romsås deposit in 1866 and kept a continuous activity running until the nickel crack in 1876. During the first seven years only test mining was carried out. In 1873 full-scale mining started, and that year the company also built its own smelter (Meinich 1879). In 1875 all together 122 men were employed at the company, 74 at the mines (i.e. the main mine at Romsås and a much smaller mine at Frøland), and 48 at the smelter (Helland 1900). After the big nickel crack in 1876 the Romsås deposit closed down and never came into production again. Total ore production from the Romsås deposit accumulated to 13 205 tons with a nickel content of c. 125 - 130 tons. Total production from all the company's mines during the period 1866-76 was, according to official statistics, 16 465 tons with a Ni content of c. 150 tons. The average ore grade at Romsås was 1.07 % Ni (+ Co) and 0.4 % Cu (Vogt 1902, Meinich & Vogt 1903). Pyrrhotite, pentlandite and chalcopyrite constitute the main ore minerals in the Romsås ore, whereas pyrite constitutes a rare, secondary constituent according to Meinich (l879, p. 128).

Bibliography:
From NGU's Reference Archive:
Carstens, Harald , 1957
On the orbicular structure in the norite of Romsaas, Norway.
;Norsk geologisk forening;TIDSSKRIFTARTIKKEL;Norsk geologisk tidsskrift; No.37 (2);279-280 pages
Abstract:
Frie emneord: Noritt

Egeberg, K. , 1902
Romsås grube. Geologisk plankart med daganlegg 1:1 000.
;Norges geologiske undersøkelse;KART;Bergarkivet; No.K 1089

Andresen, Unni ; Sørlie, Thor , 2009
Romsåsen gruver
;Norske Amatørgeologers Sammenslutning (NAGS);ARTIKKEL;Stein; No.36 (2);20-25 pages
Abstract:

Singsaas, Per , 1974
Geofysiske målinger Romsås grube.
;Norges geologiske undersøkelse;FAGRAPPORT;NGU-rapport; No.1221;7 pages

Boyd, R.; Nixon, F. , 1985
Norwegian nickel deposits: a review.
;Geologian Tutkimuskeskus / Geological Survey of Finland;ARTIKKEL;Bulletin; Nickel-copper deposits of the Baltic Shield and Scandinavian; Caledonides.; No.333;363-394 pages

Meinich, L. , 1903
Les qisements de nickel de Romsaas, Smaalene, Norvege.
;Norges geologiske undersøkelse;FAGRAPPORT;Bergarkivet; No.BA 1428;8 pages
Abstract:
Rapporten beskriver: - tidligere drift (inkl. tonnasje og gehalt) - forekomstens beliggenhet - geologien (malmens utbredelse, mektighet, malmtype og opptreden) - framtidige undersøkelser.

Thorkildsen, Birger , 1913
Rapport over Romsaas Gruber.
;Norges geologiske undersøkelse;FAGRAPPORT;Bergarkivet; No.BA 4045;2 pages
Abstract:
Forekomstene i Romsåsen ligger på kontakten mellom gneis og noritt. Mot gneisen finnes først kulenoritt og innenfor denne forekommer malmen. Malmen består for en stor del av impregnassjonsmalm. En rekke paralelle malmsoner ser ut til å stå vinkelrett på kontakten. Orter og synker er drevet på sonene. I et parti under den dypeste stollen inneholder malmen 3% nikkel og kobolt. Norittfeltet er lite i forhold til feltene i Evje. Det er tidliger brudt 16 465 tonn malm i gruven, man fikk da 1,08 tonn pr. m3 med en nettogehalt på 1,07% Ni og 0,4% Cu.

Berthelsen, Asger; Olerud, Svein; Sigmond, Ellen M.O.; Sundvoll, Bjørn , 1996
Oslo. Berggrunnskart Oslo M 1:250 000; trykt i farger
;Norges geologiske undersøkelse;KART;1 kart pages
Abstract:
Beskrivelsen finnes på kartet.

Bingen, Bernard; Skår, Øyvind; Marker, Mogens; Sigmond, Ellen M. O.; Nordgulen, Øystein; Ragnhildstveit, Jomar; Mansfeld, Joakim; Tucker, Robert D.; Liegeois, Jean Paul , 2005
Timing of continental building in the Sveconorwegian orogen, SW Scandinavia
;Norsk geologisk forening;TIDSSKRIFTARTIKKEL;Norsk geologisk tidsskrift; No.85(1/2);87-105 pages
Abstract:
The timing of continental building in the Sveconorwegian orogen of SW Scandinavia is evaluated with zircon U-Pb geochronology. ID-TIMS, LA-ICPMS and SIMS data are reported for 21 samples of orthogneiss, metahyolite and metasandstone in S Norway, with emphasis on the Suldal area. The Sveconorwegian orogen is divided into a reworked Fennoscandian 1,80-1,64 GA parautochtonous segment, the Eastern Segment, and two allochtthonous terranes. The Idefjorden terrane is interpreted as a compsite 1.66-1.52 Ga arc formed at the margin or near the margin of Fennoscandia. The western terrane, including the Telemark, Hardangervidda, Suldal and Rogaland - Vest Agder sectors, is named Telemarkia. U-BPb zircon data indicate that Telemarkia was built during a short magmatic event between 1.52 and 1.48 Ga, and was located at the margin of a Palaeoproterozoic craton, possibly Fennoscandia. No basement older than 1.5 Ga can be positively identified. In the early stage of the Sveconorwegian orogeny, Telemarkia collided with the Idefjorden terrane. The Bamble-Kongsberg sector, characterized by a mixed lithology and 1.13-1.10 Ga early-Sveconorwegian high-grade metamorphism, is interpreted as the original collision zone between these terranes.

Helland, Amund , 1900
Bergverksdrift og stenbrydning i Norge
;Bergens Museum;ARTIKKEL;Naturen; No.24 (5);139-150 pages

Støren, R. , 1909
Romsås grube. Geologisk gruvekart i plan og profil, 1:1 000.
;Norges geologiske undersøkelse;KART;Bergarkivet; No.K 1087

Støren, R. , 1909
Romsås grube. Geologisk gruvekart i plan og profil, 1:500.
;Norges geologiske undersøkelse;KART;Bergarkivet; No.K 1086 A-E

Fieldsamples
Sample No. Sample type Miscellanrous
JS-ROM2101 Bedrock
Sampler :Sandstad/Mansur/...Stored :Løkken/...Size(kg) :2
Comment :Semi-massive/dissemination of pyrrhotite+chalcopyrite, fine-/medium grained
No. of registrated element analyses = 1
JS-ROM2106 Bedrock
Sampler :Sandstad/Mansur/...Stored :Løkken/...Size(kg) :2
Comment :Massiv pyrrhotite-chalcopyrite
No. of registrated element analyses = 1
ROMSAS99-1 Dump
Sampler :Lars Petter Nilsson
Comment :Utplukket malm fra tippen
No. of registrated element analyses = 1
ROMSAS99-2 Dump
Sampler :Lars Petter Nilsson
Comment :Utplukket malm fra tippen
No. of registrated element analyses = 1
ROMSAS99-3 Dump
Sampler :Lars Petter Nilsson
Comment :Utplukket malm fra tippen
No. of registrated element analyses = 1
ROMSAS99-4 Dump
Sampler :Lars Petter Nilsson
Comment :Utplukket malm fra tippen
No. of registrated element analyses = 1
ROMSAS99-5 Dump
Sampler :Lars Petter Nilsson
Comment :Utplukket malm fra tippen
No. of registrated element analyses = 1
ROMSAS99-6 Dump
Sampler :Lars Petter Nilsson
Comment :Utplukket malm fra tippen
No. of registrated element analyses = 1
ROMSAS99-7 Dump
Sampler :Lars Petter Nilsson
Comment :Utplukket malm fra tippen
No. of registrated element analyses = 1
ROMSAS99-8 Dump
Sampler :Lars Petter Nilsson
Comment :Utplukket malm fra tippen
No. of registrated element analyses = 1
NB! All analyse values are shown at the end of the printout.:

Name of Locality : Øvre stoll
(Object Id : 0124,002,01,00)
Location
County : Østfold (01) Municipality : Askim (0124)
Map 1:50000: Askim (1914-2) Map 1:250000: Oslo
Marking point: Longitude: 11.1078970 Latitude: 59.5886510
EU89-UTM Zone 32 (Coordinates IS confirmed)
X-coord: 619017 m. Y-coord: 6607490 m.
Commodity
Main Type: Ferroalloys (Cr,Ni,Co,V,Mo,W) Sub Type: Nickel
Element(s): Ni Cu Co
Production
Activity: Mining Reserves:
Prod. method: Open pit and underground mining Production:
Prod. status: Disused, closed Volume of dump:


Fieldsamples
Sample No. Sample type Miscellanrous
JS-ROM2105 Bedrock
Sampler :Sandstad/Mansur/...Stored :Løkken/...Size(kg) :2
Comment :Semi-massive pyrrhotite+chalcopyrite, net-textured, in contact to fine-grained gabbro
No. of registrated element analyses = 1
NB! All analyse values are shown at the end of the printout.:

Name of Locality : Stoll i sørøst
(Object Id : 0124,002,02,00)
Location
County : Østfold (01) Municipality : Askim (0124)
Map 1:50000: Askim (1914-2) Map 1:250000: Oslo
Marking point: Longitude: 11.1092370 Latitude: 59.5877040
EU89-UTM Zone 32 (Coordinates IS confirmed)
X-coord: 619096 m. Y-coord: 6607387 m.
Commodity
Main Type: Ferroalloys (Cr,Ni,Co,V,Mo,W) Sub Type: Nickel
Element(s): Ni Cu Co
Production
Activity: Mining Reserves:
Prod. method: Open pit and underground mining Production:
Prod. status: Disused, closed Volume of dump:


Fieldsamples
Sample No. Sample type Miscellanrous
JS-ROM2102 Bedrock
Sampler :Sandstad/Mansur/...Stored :Løkken/...Size(kg) :2
Comment :Pyrrhotite dissemination/aggregates in plagioclase-rich norite
No. of registrated element analyses = 1
JS-ROM2103 Bedrock
Sampler :Sandstad/Mansur/...Stored :Løkken/...Size(kg) :2
Comment :Semi-massive/aggregates/dissemination of pyrrhotite+chalcopyrite in plagioclase-rich norite
No. of registrated element analyses = 1
JS-ROM2104 Bedrock
Sampler :Sandstad/Mansur/...Stored :Løkken/...Size(kg) :2
Comment :Massive/semi-massiev pyrrhotite+chalcopyrite, medium-/coarse-grained
No. of registrated element analyses = 1
NB! All analyse values are shown at the end of the printout.:

Analyse Results
from
Deposit Area 124 - 002 Romsåsen

Element analyses
( *=parts pr. million, #=parts pr.billion, Negative values means below detection limit value.)
Sample No. Sample Type Cu* Zn* Pb* Co* Ni* Ag* Au#
JS-ROM2101 Bedrock 2060 195 99 448 8080 .6 11.0
JS-ROM2102 Bedrock 288 139 15 81 846 .1 1.0
JS-ROM2103 Bedrock 1540 168 10 216 3710 .2 11.0
JS-ROM2104 Bedrock 3810 131 14 507 9510 .6 35.0
JS-ROM2105 Bedrock 2050 153 7 284 5360 .4 64.0
JS-ROM2106 Bedrock 1635 128 10 364 6760 .4 16.0
ROMSAS99-1 Dump 2900 7 2 1300 20000 -.5 15.0
ROMSAS99-2 Dump 12900 22 4 1100 17400 1.7 48.0
ROMSAS99-3 Dump 3400 16 3 1200 14200 .6 8.0
ROMSAS99-4 Dump 3800 21 3 1100 13900 .7 9.0
ROMSAS99-5 Dump 13100 51 3 495 7830 2.6 27.0
ROMSAS99-6 Dump 35300 99 6 466 11600 7.2 56.0
ROMSAS99-7 Dump 3506 27 2 473 8479 .6 18.0
ROMSAS99-8 Dump 2509 27 1 302 3812 .6 77.0
------------------
Sample No. Pt# Pd# As* Cd* Ba* Mo* Sn* Sb* Bi*
JS-ROM2101 22.0 35.0 0 .8 50 1.39 1 0 0
JS-ROM2102 -2.5 -.5 1 .2 110 0.26 1 0 0
JS-ROM2103 5.0 6.0 1 .2 100 0.62 1 -0 0
JS-ROM2104 8.0 27.0 1 .3 90 1.65 1 -0 1
JS-ROM2105 22.0 14.0 1 .3 70 0.82 1 -0 0
JS-ROM2106 38.0 26.0 1 .3 60 0.99 1 0 0
ROMSAS99-1 15.0 103.0 -5 -.5 7 3.00 -1 2
ROMSAS99-2 12.0 70.0 -5 -5.0 9 2.40 -1 2
ROMSAS99-3 3.0 40.0 -5 -.5 11 2.40 -1 3
ROMSAS99-4 8.0 43.0 -5 -.5 11 2.40 -1 3
ROMSAS99-5 7.0 35.0 -1 .2 29 1.80 -0 1
ROMSAS99-6 20.0 26.0 -1 .7 6 1.80 0 0
ROMSAS99-7 5.0 25.0 -1 .1 51 1.80 -0 0
ROMSAS99-8 4.0 18.0 -1 .1 25 1.10 -0 1
------------------
Sample No. Se* Ga* Ge* In* S% V* Cr* Mn* Fe%
JS-ROM2101 13.00 8.55 0.29 0.06 7.94 93 688 1030 19.20
JS-ROM2102 1.00 16.60 0.39 0.05 .67 125 714 1380 8.73
JS-ROM2103 6.00 9.53 0.57 0.06 3.19 138 1110 1510 13.65
JS-ROM2104 13.00 9.16 0.32 0.06 8.19 110 761 1090 20.50
JS-ROM2105 9.00 9.38 0.72 0.09 4.10 149 1190 1745 16.45
JS-ROM2106 10.00 12.40 0.39 0.07 6.18 107 788 1025 16.25
ROMSAS99-1 60.00 27.90 18 78 22 41.39
ROMSAS99-2 50.00 24.90 21 123 26 34.76
ROMSAS99-3 53.00 26.10 17 85 65 39.79
ROMSAS99-4 49.00 24.60 17 95 72 38.61
ROMSAS99-5 20.20 9.67 17 166 417 21.05
ROMSAS99-6 26.20 9.99 35 302 107 22.80
ROMSAS99-7 17.90 8.25 25 247 169 16.97
ROMSAS99-8 12.80 6.48 32 308 172 11.99
------------------
Sample No. Th* U* W* Rb* Sr* Y* Zr* Nb* Ta*
JS-ROM2101 0.52 1 6.4 101.5 9.9 9 0.80 0.05
JS-ROM2102 1.26 0 9.1 225.0 18.4 13 1.80 0.10
JS-ROM2103 1.70 -0 10.4 81.6 16.2 9 0.80 0.05
JS-ROM2104 1.20 0 9.0 94.8 12.6 11 1.10 0.07
JS-ROM2105 0.81 -0 7.2 63.4 16.3 10 1.40 0.08
JS-ROM2106 0.65 0 6.9 153.5 10.9 10 0.90 0.06
ROMSAS99-1 -0.50 -0.50 -5.0
ROMSAS99-2 -0.50 -0.50 -5.0
ROMSAS99-3 -0.50 -0.50 -5.0
ROMSAS99-4 -0.50 -0.50 -5.0
ROMSAS99-5 0.30 0.10 6.0
ROMSAS99-6 0.60 0.20 2.0
ROMSAS99-7 0.60 0.10 11.0
ROMSAS99-8 0.30 0.20 8.0
------------------
Sample No. Cs* La* Ce* Li* Be* Na* Mg* Al* P*
JS-ROM2101 0.56 6.40 15.45 0 0 6200 57900 34400 370
JS-ROM2102 0.36 12.60 30.20 0 1 14000 74500 68500 690
JS-ROM2103 0.39 11.30 24.80 0 1 5600 91900 29600 610
JS-ROM2104 0.53 7.80 18.60 0 0 5600 65600 32500 330
JS-ROM2105 0.31 8.40 20.30 0 0 5500 87500 27100 440
JS-ROM2106 0.67 7.60 17.20 0 0 9000 63700 47000 360
ROMSAS99-1 -0.50 -100 0 1300 40
ROMSAS99-2 0.50 -100 0 1900 130
ROMSAS99-3 0.60 100 0 1200 100
ROMSAS99-4 0.50 100 1 1400 120
ROMSAS99-5 3.00 280 1 2900 340
ROMSAS99-6 3.00 150 1 6100 280
ROMSAS99-7 6.00 550 1 4900 560
ROMSAS99-8 3.00 480 1 5000 640
------------------
Sample No. K * Ca* Sc* Ti* Te* Hf* Re* Hg* Tl*
JS-ROM2101 1900 21600 18.00 1330 0.72 0.30 0 0
JS-ROM2102 3400 43500 25.90 2130 0.07 0.50 0 0
JS-ROM2103 2900 21300 29.80 1910 0.29 0.40 0 0
JS-ROM2104 2700 20800 21.40 1570 1.05 0.40 0 0
JS-ROM2105 2300 25300 29.80 2520 0.35 0.50 0 0
JS-ROM2106 2100 28700 20.30 1450 0.57 0.40 0 0
ROMSAS99-1 200 300 100 0
ROMSAS99-2 300 400 200 -0
ROMSAS99-3 200 400 100 0
ROMSAS99-4 200 600 100 0
ROMSAS99-5 700 2400 300 0
ROMSAS99-6 2100 2000 630 0
ROMSAS99-7 1900 3800 800 0
ROMSAS99-8 2300 3300 860 0

The fact sheet was created on 19.05.2024
Questions or comments regarding the fact sheet can be emailed to:
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