Norsk versjon
THE ORE DATABASE
Deposit 4646 - 006 Saurdal
(Object Id: 4666)
(Last updated: 15.03.2024)
Location
County: Vestland Municipality: Fjaler (4646)
Map 1:50000: Dale (1117-1) Map 1:250000: Florø (tidl. Måløy)
Coordinate system: EU89-UTM Zone 32
East: 297199 m. North: 6801499 m.
Longitude: 5.2137990 Latitude: 61.2947590
Show on map
Resource
Resource Type: Ferrous metals(Fe, Mn, Ti) Resource Subtype: Iron-Titanium
Element(s): Fe Ti Rutile
Importance
Raw material meaning: National Importance (reg. 03.06.2015)

Resources and production
Activity: Test mining Reserves: 50000 thousand tons
Operating method: Open pit and underground mining Historical production:


Products
Element/product Crude ore grade or quality Reg. date
Ti 1.8 % 15.03.2024
TiO2 3 % 19.10.2012

Operations
From - To Activity Comments
1993 - 1994 Sampling Company/Institution :NGU
Collaboration project between NGU and DuPont/Conoco.

Mineralization
Era: Paleozoic Period: Devonian
Genesis: Metamorphic formation Form: Lens
Main texture: Banded Min. distribution: Disseminated (<20 % ore minerals)
Main grain size: Medium grained (1-3 mm) Main alteration: Amphibolisation
Strike/Dip: Direction:
Plunge:
Ti-deposit type(s)
Main type: Metamorphic Ilm/Mt-ratio:
Sub type: Rutile in eclogite %TiO(Ore):
Titanium province: Sunnfjord %P2O5(Ore):
Host rock: Eclogite %MgO(Ilm):
Main Ti mineral: Rutile %V2O3(Mt):
ppm U (Rutile):
Stratigraphic classification of host rock
Era: Proterozoic Period: Mesoproterozoic
Province: Caledonian Basement Province
Geotec.unit: Western Gneiss Region
Tectonic complex:
Igneous complex:
Group: Formation:

Mineralogy
Relationship Mineral Amount
Gangue mineral Garnet Major mineral (>10%)
Gangue mineral Pyroxene Major mineral (>10%)
Gangue mineral Amphibole Major mineral (>10%)
Gangue mineral Chlorite Subordinate mineral (1-10%)
Ore mineral Rutile Major mineral (>10%)
Ore mineral Ilmenite Major mineral (>10%)
Ore mineral Pyrite Subordinate mineral (1-10%)
Ore mineral Magnetite Subordinate mineral (1-10%)

Lithology:
Relationship Rock Origin
Host rock Eclogite Intrusive
Original rock :Gabbro
Metamorphic facies :Eclogite
Wall rock Gneiss
Metamorphic facies :Amphibolite
Wall rock Amphibolite Intrusive
Original rock :Gabbro
Metamorphic facies :Amphibolite

Information(s) in free text format
Free text
The Saurdal Fe-Ti-V deposit is associated with the marginal parts of the Saurdal eclogite, where this is grading into a chlorite-rich garnet-amphibolite and which contains massive layers with ilmenite-magnetite ore. Diamond drilling in 1956 showed that the magnetite deposit was too small to be economic. However, the unaltered eclogite is rutile-bearing. Sampling in the 1990s showed a content of 3-8 % TiO2 of which 60% titanium was locked in ilmenite and 40% in rutile. It is on this basis a possible resource of about 50 mill. t of eclogite which contains 2-3 % rutile.

Bibliography:
From NGU's Reference Archive:
Engvik, Ane K. , 1996
Field relations of the Holt-Saurdal-Tyssedalsvatnet mafic complexes - Field summary 1995-1996
;Norges geologiske undersøkelse;FAGRAPPORT;NGU-rapport; No.96.133;32 pages
Abstract:
NGU har i flere år foretatt undersøkelser av rutilførende eklogittbergarter i det aktuelle området, men uten å gå noe særlig inn på de detaljerte geologiske relasjoner. Geologien er kompleks med en serie proterozoic felsiske og mafiske bergarter som har gjennomgått en omfattende kaledonsk deformasjon og metamorfose. Karakteristiske bergarter er granitoide gneiser og amfibolitter i forskjellige varianter, metagabbroer, kloritt-harzburgitter pyroksenitter og eklogitter. Formålet med den utførte kartleggingen har vært å få bedre kontroll på felt- relasjonene i Gjørlangeområdet med særlig henblikk på proterozoic gabbroer, som tildels er Ti-rike, og deres eklogittiserte ekvivalenter.

Lauritsen, T. , 1994
Ground magnetic survey at the Saurdal eclogite, Fjaler, Sogn og Fjordane
;Norges geologiske undersøkelse;FAGRAPPORT;NGU-rapport; No.93.100;12 pages
Abstract:
This report presents results from a ground magnetic survey at the Saurdal eclogite at Saurdalsvatnet, Gjølangen, Fjaler in Sogn og Fjordane. The report also presents results from magnetic susceptibility measurements on drill-dust samples from the outcropping parts of the eclogite. The measurements aid in mapping the eclogite's westward extension. The Saurdalshaugen area appears with great variation in magnetic levels. One locality of similar magnetic signature is detected further west. The magnetic susceptibility measurements indicate a weak positive correlation between content of TiO2(total) and magnetic susceptibility . However, magnetic highs are no guarantee to great content of TiO2(total). Furthermore, analyses indicates that no magnetic level has great TiO2(rutile) content (i.e.> 3 %. In magnetic highs, however, the majority of samples (63 %) have a content of TiO2(rutile) between 1.5-3 %. Hence, it seems clear that magnetic highs can be of interest concerning TiO2(rutile) content. The relative content TiO2(rutile) (i.e. % TiO2(rutile)/TiO2(total) seems to be greatest in low magnetic areas, which might be explained by alteration from medium magnetic ilmenite to low magnetic rutile.

Korneliussen, Are , 1980
Jern- og titan-forekomster tilknyttet gabbroide, amfibolittiske og eklogittiske bergarter i Sunnfjord, Sogn og Fjordane.
;Norges geologiske undersøkelse;FAGRAPPORT;NGU-rapport; No.1717/3;39 pages
Abstract:
I forbindelse med gabbroide, granat-amfibolittiske og eklogitt-amfibolittiske bergarter innen prekambriske kvarts-feltspatiske gneiser i Sunnfjord, opptrer forekomster av magnetitt/ilmenitt og rutil/ilmenitt. Magnetitt (V-holdig)/ilmenitt opptrer som disseminasjon i gabbro, og som disseminasjon og massivmalm i klorittiserte partier i granat- og eklogitt- amfibolitt. De respektive forekomster er enten små eller lavgehaltige og vurderes som mindre lovende. Rutil opptrer som disseminasjon sammen med ilmenitt i granat- og eklogitt- amfibolitt og er et økonomisk sett adskillig mer attraktivt mineral. Det er påvist forekomster av betydelig størrelse, men med forholdsvis lave gjennom- snittsgehalter (2-3% TiO2, hovedsakelig som rutil). Enkelte partier innen disse forekomster inneholder imidlertid rutilgehalter av økonomisk interessant størrelsesorden (minst 4-5% rutil), men de korresponderende forekomststørr- elser og gjennomsnittsgehalter er ukjent. Det gjenstår å foreta en detaljert prøvetaking og vurdering av de mest interessante mineraliseringer.

Korneliussen, Are; Foslie, Gleny , 1985
Rutile-bearing eclogites in the Sunnfjord region of Western Norway.
;Norges geologiske undersøkelse;TIDSSKRIFTARTIKKEL;NGU Bulletin; No.402;65-71 pages
Abstract:
Rutile-bearing eclogites from the basal gneiss-complex of the Sunnfjord region in Sogn og Fjordane Fylke are potential titanium reserves, and have been the subject of prospecting activities during the last decade. The eclogites occure as lenses and pods in Precambrian gneisses and are believed to have been formed by the recrysrallization of basic igneous rocks during high-pressure Caledonian metamorphism. They are composed principally of garnet, omphacitic clinopyroxene and barroisitic amphibole. Rutile con- centrations are generally in the range 1 to 4 wt.%, although higher concen- trations occur locally. About 90% of the titanium in the eclogites is contained in rutile. Some large eclogite bodies are each estimated to contain at least 100 Mt. containing approximately 3% rutile, which is presently uneconomic.

Korneliussen, Are ; McLimans, Roger ; Braathen, Alvar ; Erambert, Muriel ; Lutro, Ole ; Ragnhildstveit, Jomar , 2000
Rutile in eclogites as a mineral resource in the Sunnfjord Region, Western Norway.
;Norges geologiske undersøkelse;TIDSSKRIFTARTIKKEL;NGU Bulletin; No.436;39-47 pages
Abstract:
The world's resources of the primary titanium raw materials ilmenite and rutile are very large. However, there is a lack of high-grade, high-quality ilmenite deposits as well as good rutile deposits. Particular focus has been given to rutilebearing eclogites in the Sunnfjord region of western Norway, due to a combination of factors such as high rutile content over significant volumes of rock and favourable rutile grainsize. Eclogites in the Sunnfjord region are found in a number of elongated lenses up to 3-4 km long, surrounded by gneisses of amphibolitic to granite composition, as well as numerous smaller eclogite bodies and eclogitised mafic layers in gneisses. The eclogites originated by high-pressure and temperature alteration of Proterozoic, Fe-Ti rich, gabbroic rocks, and were strongly deformed under eclogite-facies netamorphism and thereafter variably affected by retrograde processes. Eclogites in which conversation of ilmenite to rutle was complete and in which this mineral assemblage was negligibly affected by subsequent retrograde processes, are those of greatest economic potential. An example of such an eclogite is the Engebøfjellet eclogite on the north side of Førdefjord, Naustdal commune.

The fact sheet was created on 19.04.2024
Questions or comments regarding the fact sheet can be emailed to:
ressursdatabaser@ngu.no
Copyright © 2024 Geological Survey of Norway