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THE ORE DATABASE
Deposit 5059 - 015 Løkken
(Object Id: 4254)
(Last updated: 15.03.2024)
Drill Cores: Løkken

Location
County: Trøndelag Municipality: Orkland (5059)
Map 1:50000: Løkken (1521-3) Map 1:250000: Trondheim
Coordinate system: EU89-UTM Zone 32
East: 535199 m. North: 6999350 m.
Longitude: 9.6978490 Latitude: 63.1217900
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Resource
Resource Type: Base metals (Cu,Zn,Pb,Fe sulphides, As,Sb,Bi,Sn) Resource Subtype: Copper
Element(s): Kis Cu Zn Co
Importance
Raw material meaning: National Importance (reg. 27.05.2015)
Historical: Yes , (Confirmed 08.jun.2009 by Agnes Raaness)

Resources and production
Activity: Mining Reserves: 6000 thousand tons
Operating method: Underground mining Historical production: 24000 thousand tons


Products
Element/product Crude ore grade or quality Reg. date
Ag 19 ppm 28.06.2001
Co 0,07 % 28.06.2001
Cu 2,1 % 28.06.2001
S 41,4 % 28.06.2001
Zn 1,9 % 28.06.2001

Operations
From - To Activity Comments
1654 - 1844 Regular production Company/Institution :Participantskap
Mange forskjellige eierforhold
1850 - 1891 Regular production
1904 - 1987 Regular production Company/Institution :Orkla Gruber
1974 - 1980 Regular production Company/Institution :Orkla Industrier AS
1980 - 1987 Regular production Company/Institution :Løkken Gruber A/S & Co

Mineralization
Era: Paleozoic Period: Ordovician
Genesis: Volcex Form: Ruler
Main texture: Massive Min. distribution: Massive (>50 % ore minerals)
Main grain size: Fine grained (< 1 mm) Main alteration: Chloritisation
Strike/Dip: 290 / 45 Direction: 295
Plunge: 15
Stratigraphic classification of host rock
Era: Paleozoic Period: Ordovician
Province: Caledonides
Geotec.unit: Trondheim Nappe Complex
Tectonic complex:
Igneous complex:
Group: Løkken Ophiolite Complex Formation:

Mineralogy
Relationship Mineral Amount
Gangue mineral Quartz Major mineral (>10%)
Gangue mineral Carbonate Accessory mineral (<1%)
Ore mineral Pyrite Major mineral (>10%)
Ore mineral Chalcopyrite Subordinate mineral (1-10%)
Ore mineral Sphalerite Subordinate mineral (1-10%)
Ore mineral Hematite Accessory mineral (<1%)
Ore mineral Magnetite Accessory mineral (<1%)
Ore mineral Tennantite Accessory mineral (<1%)
Ore mineral Tetrahedrite Accessory mineral (<1%)
Ore mineral Pyrrhotite Accessory mineral (<1%)
Ore mineral Galena Accessory mineral (<1%)
Ore mineral Bornite Accessory mineral (<1%)

Lithology:
Relationship Rock Origin
Wall rock Greenstone Extrusive
Original rock :Basalt
Metamorphic facies :Greenschist
Wall rock Jasper Sedimentary
Original rock :Exhalite
Metamorphic facies :Greenschist
Wall rock Vasskis Sedimentary
Original rock :Exhalite
Metamorphic facies :Greenschist

Structures
Location: Type: Orientation(360 gr.): Relation to min.:
Wall rock Primary layering Strike/Dip :290 / 45 Syn-mineralisation

Information(s) in free text format
Free text
The Løkken deposit in the Løkken ophiolite was the largest ophiolite-hosted VMS deposit (i.e. Cyprus type) in the world. It contained an original tonnage of about 30 Mt grading 2.3 % Cu, 1.8 % Zn, 0.02 % Pb, 16 g/t Ag and 0.2 g/t Au. About 24 Mt of the ore was mined over a period of 333 years (1654–1987). The massive sulphide ore consists predominantly of pyrite with subordinate chalcopyrite and sphalerite, whereas galena, magnetite, hematite and bornite are minor components locally and fahlore is the most important accessory phase. Quartz is the main non-sulphide, constituting 12–14 % of the ore. Due to deformation, the ore body is tectonically disrupted into one major and several smaller bodies. The total length of the ore body is about 4 km, the average width 150–200 m and the thickness about 50 m. This morphology can be ascribed to primary features such as subparallel faults at the seafloor, and an extensive, fissure-related hydrothermal vent system. Associated with the massive ore body is an extensive feeder zone system, present along the entire 4 km deposit. The feeder zone has pyrite, chalcopyrite and quartz as its main constituents, and accessory amounts of sphalerite, magnetite and iron oxides. The total width of the zone is about 100 m. Because of its high Cu-content, this part of the deposit was the first to be mined at Løkken.

Bibliography:
From NGU's Reference Archive:
Birketvedt, J. , 1921
Geologiske beskrivelser av Løkken grubes kisforekomst, samt en bergteknisk beskrivelse av driften omkring Wallenbergs sjakt.
;NTH Bergavd.;AVHANDLING

Borchgrevink, O.F. , 1932
Foredrag av O.F.Borchgrevink 19 september 1932: Noen detaljer fra driften ved Løkken grube.
;Norges geologiske undersøkelse;FOREDRAG; RAPPORT;Bergarkivet; No.BA 3697;8 pages
Abstract:
Rapporten er et nedskrevet foredrag fra 175-årsjubileet for bergmanns- undervisning. Først i foredraget nevnes kort om den historiske utvikling når det gjelder brytningsteknikk og utvinning, og om hvilke forbedringer som er gjort opp gjennom årene. Rapporten nevner kort de brytningsmetoder som er i bruk (1932), og kommer med et forslag til effektivisering av lading av salver.

Marlow, Wolmer , 1914
Geologisk bergteknisk beskrivelse av Løkken Grube.
;NTH Bergavd.;AVHANDLING

Vokes, Frank M. , 1960
Description of mines and deposits. Løkken pyrite mine (Orkla Grube- Aktiebolag).
;Norges geologiske undersøkelse;EKSKURSJONSGUIDE; TIDSSKRIFTARTIKKEL;NGU; No.212m;64-73 pages

Borchgrevink, O.F. , 1954
Løkken verk 300 år - Orkla Grube-Aktiebolag 50 år.
;TIDSSKRIFTARTIKKEL;Teknisk ukeblad; No.101 (47);1011-1020 pages

Grenne, Tor , 1989
Magmatic evolution of the Løkken SSZ Ophiolite, Norwegian Caledonides: relationships between anomalous lavas and high-level intrusions.
;Wiley;TIDSSKRIFTARTIKKEL;Geological journal; No.Vol. 24;251-274 pages
Abstract:
The Lower Ordovician Løkken ophiolite fragment shows a tripartite subdivision of its thick volcanic sequence into: (1) an Upper Volcanic Member (UVM) of transitional MORB/IAT character, comprising bastalts or, in a related, thrustbounded sequence, a bimodal basal-rhyolite assemblage; (2) a Middle Volcanic Member (MVM) derived from widely variable, generally MORB-related magmas; and (3) a Lower Volcanic Member (LVM) of N-type MORB basalts which locally passes into an underlying sheeted dyke complex. The UVM and LVM were fed from relatively deep-seated magma chambers, and lavas were erupted at moderate flow rates to form predominantly pillow lavas. The whole sequence is interpreted as having formed in a marginal basin setting. The MVM is characterized by abundant voluminous sheet basalts thought to have been erupted at high flow rates. The volcanites had their source, through extensive dyke swarms, in high-level magmas which intruded the sheeted dyke complex and parts of the LVM, possibly in a near-axial seamount setting. The magmas differentiated to form plagiogranitic melts, with a wide range of conjunctive, mafic to intermediate cumulates. This plutonic assemblage, possibly in crystal mush form, was subsequently intruded by new, mafic magma, leading partly to large-scale remelting or assimilation of cumulus phases. These processes are reflected in the MVM by common hybrid flows, as well as local intermediate lavas having the geochemical characteristics of cumulates, erupted during a period of intense faulting. Major tapping of the primary, mafic magma occurred toward the end of the period of MVM volcanism. A predominance of voluminous, apparently fluid, massive flows in the MVM is mainly ascribed to the shallow depth of magma reservoirs.

Vokes, Frank M. , 1995
Geological factors influencing the utilization of the Løkken Cu-Zn-Fe-S deposit, Meldal. Foredrag v/ekskursjon til Løkken og Orkdal 16 september 1995.
;FOREDRAG; TIDSSKRIFTARTIKKEL;Det Kongelige Norske Videnskabers Selskabs Forhandlinger;179-190 pages

Grenne, T.; Grammeltvedt, G.; Vokes, F.M. , 1980
Cyprus-type sulphide deposits in the western Trondheim District, central Norwegian Caledonides.
;Cyprus Geological Survey Department;ARTIKKEL;Ophiolites; Proceedings International Ophiolite Symposium, Cyprus; 1979.;727-743 pages

Grenne, T.; Vokes, F.M. , 1990
Sea-floor sulfides at the Høydal volcanogenic deposit, central Norwegian Caledonides.
;TIDSSKRIFTARTIKKEL;Economic geology; No.85;344-359 pages
Abstract:
The Høydal volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit is associated with thick basaltic sheet flows toward the middle of a 1-2 km thick, low-metamorphic, inverted, Lower Ordovician ophiolitic volcanite sequence in the central Norwegian Caledonides, just east of the major (25+ million metric tons) orebody at Løkken. Høydal is one of the very few Scandinavian Caledonian strata-bound vocanogenic massive sulfide deposits which retains dominantly sea-floor depositional features, due to the minimal effects of later deformation and metamorphism. This study documents these features and compares them with those of recently formed and presently forming sea-floor sulfides.

References not to be found in NGU's Reference Archive.:
Grenne, T. 1989: The feeder-zone to the Løkken ophiolite-hosted massive sulfide deposit and related mineralization in the central Norwegian Caledonides. Econ. Geol 84, 2173-2195.

Name of Locality: Wallenberg shaft
(Object Id: 32801 15,01,00)

Location
County: Trøndelag Municipality: Orkland (5059)
Map 1:50000: Løkken (1521-3) Map 1:250000: Trondheim
Coordinate system: EU89-UTM Zone 32
East: 534080 m. North: 6999655 m.
Longitude: 9.6757110 Latitude: 63.1246430
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Resource
Resource Type: Base metals (Cu,Zn,Pb,Fe sulphides, As,Sb,Bi,Sn) Resource Subtype: Copper
Element(s): Kis Cu Zn


Name of Locality: Astrup shaft
(Object Id: 32802 15,02,00)

Location
County: Trøndelag Municipality: Orkland (5059)
Map 1:50000: Løkken (1521-3) Map 1:250000: Trondheim
Coordinate system: EU89-UTM Zone 32
East: 532517 m. North: 6999948 m.
Longitude: 9.6448010 Latitude: 63.1274170
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Resource
Resource Type: Base metals (Cu,Zn,Pb,Fe sulphides, As,Sb,Bi,Sn) Resource Subtype: Copper
Element(s): Kis Cu Zn


Information(s) in free text format
Free text
Fem prøver av massiv sulfidmalm ble innsamlet på nivå 810 m (under overflaten). Fire av disse er kobberkis-pyritt malm med lite sinkblende, og i gjennomsnitt inneholder de 3,6 % Cu og kun 0,12 % Zn. Alle prøvene er anriket på kobolt med i gjennomsnitt 757 ppm Co, og erytrin ble også observert i gruva under prøvetakingen.

Fieldsamples
Sample No. Sample type Miscellanrous
JS-L1901 Bedrock
Sampler: J.S. Sandstad/...Stored: Løkken/...Size(kg): 2
Comment: Massive pyrite-chalcopyrite ore
No. of registrated element analyses = 1
JS-L1902 Bedrock
Sampler: J.S. Sandstad/...Stored: Løkken/...Size(kg): 2
Comment: Massive pyrite-chalcopyrite ore
No. of registrated element analyses = 1
JS-L1903 Bedrock
Sampler: J.S. Sandstad/...Stored: Løkken/...Size(kg): 2
Comment: Massive pyrite-chalcopyrite-sphalerite ore
No. of registrated element analyses = 1
JS-L1904 Bedrock
Sampler: J.S. Sandstad/...Stored: Løkken/...Size(kg): 2
Comment: Massive pyrite-chalcopyrite ore
No. of registrated element analyses = 1
JS-L1906 Bedrock
Sampler: J.S. Sandstad/...Stored: Løkken/...Size(kg): 2
Comment: Massive pyrite+chalcopyrite+sphalerite ore
No. of registrated element analyses = 1
NB! All analyse values are shown at the end of the printout.:

Name of Locality: Moen shaft
(Object Id: 32803 15,03,00)

Location
County: Trøndelag Municipality: Orkland (5059)
Map 1:50000: Løkken (1521-3) Map 1:250000: Trondheim
Coordinate system: EU89-UTM Zone 32
East: 531869 m. North: 7000160 m.
Longitude: 9.6319940 Latitude: 63.1293770
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Resource
Resource Type: Base metals (Cu,Zn,Pb,Fe sulphides, As,Sb,Bi,Sn) Resource Subtype: Copper
Element(s): Kis Cu Zn



Analyse Results
from
Deposit Area 5059 - 015 Løkken

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-L1901 Bedrock 62400 777 184 1200 18 44.2 213.0
JS-L1902 Bedrock 40100 807 217 773 34 38.4 264.0
JS-L1903 Bedrock 14700 2770 298 295 31 17.3 322.0
JS-L1904 Bedrock 27500 297 211 1100 17 25.7 267.0
JS-L1906 Bedrock 9680 2700 406 417 66 19.1 340.0
------------------
Sample No. Pt# Pd# As* Cd* Ba* Mo* Sn* Sb* Bi*
JS-L1901 -5.0 -1.0 349 6.2 60 54.70 1 2 5
JS-L1902 -5.0 1.0 450 6.1 70 67.00 1 4 6
JS-L1903 -5.0 1.0 517 15.6 20 44.50 0 5 4
JS-L1904 -5.0 -1.0 393 2.0 20 106.00 0 3 4
JS-L1906 -5.0 1.0 277 24.1 10 64.30 1 6 4
------------------
Sample No. Se* Ga* Ge* In* S% V* Cr* Mn* Fe%
JS-L1901 123.00 3.23 0.71 0.68 10.00 55 8 154 36.50
JS-L1902 78.00 6.51 0.73 0.83 10.00 143 14 228 35.70
JS-L1903 35.00 1.55 0.50 0.58 10.00 55 15 153 33.10
JS-L1904 53.00 1.17 0.49 1.31 10.00 63 16 99 33.20
JS-L1906 34.00 1.62 0.42 1.18 10.00 16 25 214 30.30
------------------
Sample No. Th* U* W* Rb* Sr* Y* Zr* Nb* Ta*
JS-L1901 0.07 0.40 -0 2.7 13.3 1.3 1 -0.10 -0.05
JS-L1902 0.06 1.80 -0 9.3 5.8 2.5 1 -0.10 -0.05
JS-L1903 0.02 1.50 0 1.2 1.8 0.8 1 -0.10 -0.05
JS-L1904 0.01 1.60 -0 1.4 1.4 0.5 1 -0.10 -0.05
JS-L1906 0.02 1.30 0 0.5 1.3 0.4 1 -0.10 -0.05
------------------
Sample No. Cs* La* Ce* Li* Be* Na* Mg* Al* P*
JS-L1901 1.30 -0.50 0.77 1 -0 0 0 0 20
JS-L1902 3.29 0.90 1.52 1 -0 0 0 1 70
JS-L1903 0.16 -0.50 0.41 0 -0 0 0 0 120
JS-L1904 0.14 -0.50 0.16 0 -0 0 0 0 30
JS-L1906 0.06 -0.50 0.19 1 -0 0 0 0 30
------------------
Sample No. K * Ca* Sc* Ti* Te* Hf* Re* Tl*
JS-L1901 0 1 0.40 -0 4.47 -0.10 205 3
JS-L1902 0 0 0.50 0 3.09 -0.10 225 4
JS-L1903 0 0 0.10 -0 1.84 -0.10 67 8
JS-L1904 0 0 0.10 -0 1.97 -0.10 171 3
JS-L1906 0 0 0.10 -0 1.42 -0.10 61 2


The fact sheet was created on 02.05.2024

Questions or comments regarding the fact sheet can be emailed to:
ressursdatabaser@ngu.no
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