Minerals have been mined in Sweden for over 1 000 years. They are important for the society and are used in our daily life. Geological information and knowledge about the assets are vital in order to use the mineral resources in a sustainable way.
A very important part of SGU´s responsibility is to survey and document the geology of Sweden – not least with a view to facilitate mineral exploration. Our information on bedrock geology, bedrock quality, Quaternary (superficial) deposits, geochemistry and geophysics provides a foundation for exploration for metal ores, industrial minerals and dimension stone.
SGU's mission is to provide society with geological information. This includes producing statistics on how much metal, minerals and aggregates are produced in Sweden.
Sweden has a history of mining and metal refining stretching back more than a thousand years. Today, Sweden is one of the EU's leading ore and metal producers. Sweden is by far the largest iron ore producer in the EU and is also among the foremost producers of base and precious metals.
The world’s need for metals and minerals is immense and continues to grow. Recycling and reuse is one of the most energy efficient measures to limit the mining and mineral industry’s impact on the environment.
Mining activities typically impact the surrounding environment. The extent to which a given environmental impact is deemed tolerable is governed by laws which aim to protect nature, ecosystems and humans. Environmental impacts vary from one mining operation to another, depending primarily on the materials being mined, and how mining waste are managed.
There is a great demand for metals and minerals in today´s society. In Europe, we consume about a quarter of the world´s raw materials but produce only three percent. This means a large dependency on imports. According to the EU, European production of raw materials needs to increase.
An industrial mineral is a rock, a mineral or other naturally occurring material of economic value.
Gold (Au), tantalum (Ta), tin (Sn) and tungsten (W), also referred to as 3TG, are metals commonly used for manufacturing in modern technologies. Minerals or ore concentrates from which these metals are extracted, including respectively native gold (found mostly as metal in nature), columbite-tantalite, cassiterite, and wolframite have been categorized as conflict minerals by the EU because some of the extraction takes place in conflict-affected areas and often under difficult working conditions.
The following presents information on the regulatory framework surrounding mineral exploration and mining activities. You will also find links to Acts and Ordinances concerning the exploration and extraction of various mineral resources.
A large part of Sweden is covered by soil or water that hides our bedrock. With different geophysical methods we are able to look down in the ground, from a few meters to several kilometers. SGU uses different methods to measure physical properties in both soil and bedrock to draw conclusions about geological structures and processes.
SGUs geochemical mapping focuses on researching the natural levels of metals and other important elements in soils. The information shows, for example; areas where gold is present, where there is a lack of important elements such as phosphorus and magnesium, or a risk of too high natural levels of arsenic or cadmium.
The information SGU provides by mapping the bedrock is an essential foundation for, among others; construction planning, geothermal energy extraction, prospecting for ores, hydrocarbons and bedrock, as well as for work in different fields of the environmental sciences.
