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THE ORE DATABASE
Deposit 1806 - 110 Melkedalen
(Object Id: 2566)
(Last updated: 14.03.2024)
Location
County: Nordland Municipality: Narvik (1806)
Map 1:50000: Evenes (1331-4) Map 1:250000: Narvik
Coordinate system: EU89-UTM Zone 33
East: 572579 m. North: 7572000 m.
Longitude: 16.7554750 Latitude: 68.2520600
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Resource
Resource Type: Base metals (Cu,Zn,Pb,Fe sulphides, As,Sb,Bi,Sn) Resource Subtype: Zinc
Element(s): Zn Cu Kis
Importance
Raw material meaning: Regional Importance (reg. 01.06.2015)

Resources and production
Activity: Mining Reserves: 640 thousand tons
Operating method: Underground mining Historical production: 15 thousand tons


Products
Element/product Crude ore grade or quality Reg. date
Cu 1 % 14.03.2024
Zn 2.2 % 14.03.2024

Operations
From - To Activity Comments
1899 - 1913 Regular production

Mineralization
Era: Paleozoic Period: Cambrian
Genesis: Hydrothermal breccia Form: Plate
Main texture: Banded Min. distribution: Irregular (scattered)
Main grain size: Medium grained (1-3 mm) Main alteration:
Strike/Dip: 200 / 70 Direction:
Plunge:
Stratigraphic classification of host rock
Era: Paleozoic Period: Cambrian
Province: Caledonides
Geotec.unit: Narvik Nappe Complex
Tectonic complex:
Igneous complex:
Group: Narvikgruppen Formation: Melkedalkalken

Mineralogy
Relationship Mineral Amount
Gangue mineral Calcite Major mineral (>10%)
Gangue mineral Dolomite Major mineral (>10%)
Gangue mineral Graphite Subordinate mineral (1-10%)
Gangue mineral Biotite Subordinate mineral (1-10%)
Gangue mineral Muscovite Subordinate mineral (1-10%)
Ore mineral Pyrrhotite Major mineral (>10%)
Ore mineral Pyrite Major mineral (>10%)
Ore mineral Chalcopyrite Major mineral (>10%)
Ore mineral Sphalerite Major mineral (>10%)
Ore mineral Arsenopyrite Accessory mineral (<1%)

Lithology:
Relationship Rock Origin
Host rock Dolomite Sedimentary
Original rock :Dolomite
Metamorphic facies :Amphibolite
Host rock Calcite marble Sedimentary
Original rock :Limestone
Metamorphic facies :Amphibolite
Wall rock Mica schist Sedimentary
Metamorphic facies :Amphibolite
Wall rock Pegmatite
Metamorphic facies :Amphibolite

Structures
Location: Type: Orientation(360 gr.): Relation to min.:
Host rock Joints/Fractures Pre-mineralisation ;...Effect :Controls
Host rock Mineral banding Pre-mineralisation
Host rock Fault plane Post-mineralisation

Information(s) in free text format
Free text
The Melkedalen sulphide deposit is hosted by calcite and dolomite marble, which is strongly deformed and brecciated. Test mining was carried out between 1899-1913 and 15 000 t of ore was produced from 710 m of adits in 4 levels over 400 m strike length. The mineralization consists of pyrite, pyrrhotite, sphalerite and chalcopyrite with local enrichments of arsenopyrite. Quite extensive exploration work including mapping, geophysics and diamond drilling was carried out in 1957, 1991 and 1992. This work has identified a possible resource of 0.64 Mt with 1.0 % Cu, 2.2 % Zn. This is based on an average width of the ore zone of 3.3 m, and a strike length of 250 m followed to a depth of 250 m.

Bibliography:
From NGU's Reference Archive:
Foslie, Steinar , 1946
Melkedalen grube i Ofoten. Søndre Ofotens malmforekomster I.
;Norges geologiske undersøkelse;TIDSSKRIFTARTIKKEL;NGU; No.169;1-108 + p pages
Abstract:
Melkedalen copper mine is situated at latitude 68 degrees 15 N, in the district of Ofoten, Northern Norway. It has formerly been mined only for chalcopyrite, but actually iron pyrites and sphalerite are equally important constituents of the ore. The whole district has been subject to considerable sulphidic mineralization, with numerous deposits of different types. The reason why Melkedalen is here teated in a separate paper, is because its genetic development seems to be quite evident. The deposits may briefly be characterized as an hypothermal, quartz-bearing breccia vein along a fault fissure in dolomite, the ore minerals being mainly deposited by replacement. The latter part of the paper, devoted to historical and technical objects, will not be referred to here, because it has only local interest. The mine was worked by several British companies, intermittently between the years 1899-1912, with little succes, however, mainly on account of the complete failure of the concentration plant. The Melkedalen area is composed of a thick series of homogenous mica schists, metamorphosed regionally in the epidote-amphibolite facies.

Foslie, Steinar
Melkedalen grube. Plankart over stoller og kalksone med daganlegg, 1:3 000.
;Norges geologiske undersøkelse;KART;Bergarkivet; No.K 836

Foslie, Steinar
Melkedalen grube. Plankart med malmsone i kalk, 1:2 000.
;Norges geologiske undersøkelse;KART;Bergarkivet; No.K 834

Bøckman, K.L.
Utskrift av befaringsprotokollen ved Nordlandske bergmesterembede fra befaring 15. juni 1949, hva angår Melkedalen kisgrube.
;Norges geologiske undersøkelse;FAGRAPPORT;Bergarkivet; No.BA 1972;1 pages
Abstract:
Dokumentet refererer observasjoner gjort i stollene III og IV (I og II var utilgjengelige under en befaring av Melkedalgruben, samt litt om sikring av gruvehull og litt om eventuell diamantboring.

Foslie, Steinar
Melkedalen grube. Plankart og profil av gruva, 1:625.
;Norges geologiske undersøkelse;KART;Bergarkivet; No.K 833

Rønning, Jan Steinar; Dalsegg, Einar , 1993
CP- og ledningsevnemålinger på Melkedalen CU-Zn-forekomst, Ballangen, Nordland
;Norges geologiske undersøkelse;FAGRAPPORT;NGU-rapport; No.93.019;17 pages
Abstract:
I forbindelse med undersøkelser av Melkedalen Cu-Zn-forekomst, har NGU utført CP-målinger på bakken og i de fleste borhull. I tre av borhullene ble det i tillegg også utført ledningsevnemålinger. CP-målingene på bakken har vist at forekomstens strøkutstrekning er ca. 1000 m, og ikke 500 m som tidligere antatt. Borhullsmålingene har vist at i de hull som var åpne og boret langt nok, representerer den påtrufne mineraliseringen den utgående "malmsonen".I de øvrige borhull viste målingene at de var boret for kort, noe som ble bekreftet da det ble påvist mineraliseringer i samtlige hull som ble forlenget. De to grafittsonene vest for forekomsten har forstyrret måledata i så stor grad, at en ikke har kunnet angi sonens dyp ut over det som er kjent fra boringene.

References not to be found in NGU's Reference Archive.:
Folldal Verk AS, 1991: Diverse om Melkedalen, 97 s. Rapport Dir.Min - BV 4088

Name of Sample point: Bh 14
(Object Id: 39171 110,00,01)
Location
County: Nordland Municipality: Narvik (1806)
Map 1:50000: Evenes (1331-4) Map 1:250000: Narvik
Coordinate system: EU89-UTM Zone 33
East: 572284 m. North: 7571895 m.
Longitude: 16.7482480 Latitude: 68.2511940
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Resource
Resource Type: Base metals (Cu,Zn,Pb,Fe sulphides, As,Sb,Bi,Sn) Resource Subtype: Zinc
Element(s): Zn Cu Kis


Fieldsamples
Sample No. Sample type Miscellanrous
Bh14, 134.45-135.30 Core
Sampler: T. Bjerkgård/J.S. Sandstad
Comment: Pyrrhotite-sphalerite-chalcopyrite veins and lenses in dolomit
No. of registrated element analyses = 1
Bh14, 135.30-136.35 Core
Sampler: T. Bjerkgård/J.S. Sandstad
Comment: Pyrrhotite-sphalerite-chalcopyrite veins and lenses in dolomit
No. of registrated element analyses = 1
NB! All analyse values are shown at the end of the printout.:

Name of Sample point: Bh 5
(Object Id: 39172 110,00,02)
Location
County: Nordland Municipality: Narvik (1806)
Map 1:50000: Evenes (1331-4) Map 1:250000: Narvik
Coordinate system: EU89-UTM Zone 33
East: 572390 m. North: 7572014 m.
Longitude: 16.7508920 Latitude: 68.2522340
Show on map
Resource
Resource Type: Base metals (Cu,Zn,Pb,Fe sulphides, As,Sb,Bi,Sn) Resource Subtype: Zinc
Element(s): Zn Cu Kis


Fieldsamples
Sample No. Sample type Miscellanrous
Bh5, 118.0-119.0 Core
Sampler: T. Bjerkgård/J.S. Sandstad
Comment: Pyrrhotite-sphalerite-chalcopyrite
No. of registrated element analyses = 1
Bh5, 119.0-120.0 Core
Sampler: T. Bjerkgård/J.S. Sandstad
Comment: Pyrrhotite-sphalerite-chalcopyrite
No. of registrated element analyses = 1
NB! All analyse values are shown at the end of the printout.:

Name of Sample point: Bh 16
(Object Id: 39173 110,00,03)
Location
County: Nordland Municipality: Narvik (1806)
Map 1:50000: Evenes (1331-4) Map 1:250000: Narvik
Coordinate system: EU89-UTM Zone 33
East: 572237 m. North: 7571914 m.
Longitude: 16.7471260 Latitude: 68.2513850
Show on map
Resource
Resource Type: Base metals (Cu,Zn,Pb,Fe sulphides, As,Sb,Bi,Sn) Resource Subtype: Zinc
Element(s): Zn Cu Kis


Fieldsamples
Sample No. Sample type Miscellanrous
BH16, 204.4-205.25 Core
Sampler: T. Bjerkgård/J.S. Sandstad
Comment: Pyrite-sphalerite lenses
No. of registrated element analyses = 1
Bh16, 206.0-207.0 Core
Sampler: T. Bjerkgård/J.S. Sandstad
Comment: Pyrite-sphalerite+chalcopyrite lenses
No. of registrated element analyses = 1
NB! All analyse values are shown at the end of the printout.:

Analyse Results
from
Deposit Area 1806 - 110 Melkedalen

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#
Bh14, 134.45-135.30 Core 15450 65500 56 281 3 4.7 31.0
Bh14, 135.30-136.35 Core 20700 59500 1005 266 7 9.8 47.0
BH16, 204.4-205.25 Core 13300 27800 258 95 3 4.3 18.0
Bh16, 206.0-207.0 Core 7060 60200 77 264 4 2.2 19.0
Bh5, 118.0-119.0 Core 20300 12750 14 39 7 5.2 13.0
Bh5, 119.0-120.0 Core 22800 30900 21 64 6 6.9 33.0
------------------
Sample No. Pt# Pd# As* Cd* Ba* Mo* Sn* Sb* Bi*
Bh14, 134.45-135.30 2.5 .5 496 173.5 50 14.20 11 10 7
Bh14, 135.30-136.35 2.5 .5 362 153.5 30 7.26 14 30 70
BH16, 204.4-205.25 2.5 .5 199 70.5 30 2.16 9 9 14
Bh16, 206.0-207.0 2.5 1.0 278 158.0 40 9.99 9 8 6
Bh5, 118.0-119.0 2.5 .5 15 35.1 140 9.82 3 4 3
Bh5, 119.0-120.0 2.5 .5 40 79.4 30 7.26 3 5 3
------------------
Sample No. Se* Ga* Ge* In* S% V* Cr* Mn* Fe%
Bh14, 134.45-135.30 84.00 29.80 6.60 0.05 10.00 10 6 1275 25.70
Bh14, 135.30-136.35 82.00 30.70 4.73 0.05 10.00 6 6 1255 21.00
BH16, 204.4-205.25 45.00 24.60 1.58 0.01 10.00 14 8 1820 13.45
Bh16, 206.0-207.0 64.00 26.30 4.54 0.04 10.00 12 6 1865 17.35
Bh5, 118.0-119.0 43.00 13.10 0.31 0.07 6.35 28 19 1115 10.80
Bh5, 119.0-120.0 52.00 7.43 1.27 0.08 7.35 14 7 1105 10.50
------------------
Sample No. Th* U* W* Rb* Sr* Y* Zr* Nb* Ta*
Bh14, 134.45-135.30 0.70 1.20 19 9.4 123.0 1.5 4 0.70 0.06
Bh14, 135.30-136.35 0.29 0.60 19 5.3 118.0 1.1 3 0.30 0.03
BH16, 204.4-205.25 0.98 1.60 16 6.6 144.0 2.1 6 1.00 0.09
Bh16, 206.0-207.0 0.60 2.20 29 10.7 156.5 1.5 6 0.60 0.06
Bh5, 118.0-119.0 3.75 2.90 4 45.3 243.0 6.1 18 3.80 0.29
Bh5, 119.0-120.0 0.92 1.30 4 6.3 219.0 2.9 8 1.20 0.09
------------------
Sample No. Cs* La* Ce* Li* Be* P* Sc* Ti* Te*
Bh14, 134.45-135.30 0.51 1.60 3.19 7 0 440 0.60 250 0.53
Bh14, 135.30-136.35 0.28 1.00 2.30 5 0 300 0.50 120 2.02
BH16, 204.4-205.25 0.28 2.40 5.60 7 0 1030 0.90 310 0.72
Bh16, 206.0-207.0 0.54 1.40 3.31 9 0 470 0.70 220 0.66
Bh5, 118.0-119.0 1.52 9.00 17.20 24 1 1880 3.30 1010 0.31
Bh5, 119.0-120.0 0.25 3.40 7.31 5 0 1480 1.10 340 0.39
------------------
Sample No. Hf* Re* Tl*
Bh14, 134.45-135.30 0.20 0 1
Bh14, 135.30-136.35 0.10 0 1
BH16, 204.4-205.25 0.20 0 1
Bh16, 206.0-207.0 0.20 0 1
Bh5, 118.0-119.0 0.50 0 1
Bh5, 119.0-120.0 0.30 0 0

The fact sheet was created on 27.04.2024
Questions or comments regarding the fact sheet can be emailed to:
ressursdatabaser@ngu.no
Copyright © 2024 Geological Survey of Norway