Historical mining of Fe-Ca ore in Garpenberg, Sweden. : A study based on lake sediment geochemistry from Finnhytte-dammsjön.

Abstract: It is well established that mining and metallurgy on a larger scale in Sweden originated in Bergslagen. The historical mining district Garpenberg in Bergslagen presently show the oldest signs of mining in Sweden (2300 BP) based on a study of a lake sediment profile from Gruvsjön. This report focuses on the mining history around Finnhytte-dammsjön (Garpenberg) to assess when the first signs of mining occur, what type of ore was being mined, when the first sign of modern mining was observed and when the lake development stabilized. A complete sediment profile was sampled from Finnhytte-dammsjön which was analyzed with X-Ray Fluorescence spectroscopy. An age-depth model was created for the sediment profile using the introduction of Norway Spruce (Picea Abies) pollen and by matching known peaks in historical atmospheric pollution of Pb as points of reference. Increased Fe concentrations (3.6 ± 0.4 %) compared to deeper sections (2.6 ± 0.2 %) was observed which were well correlated with Ca (R2: 0.73). Indications of increased Fe concentrations relative to Ca was found from 2000 BP. Stabilization of LOI550 and changes in sediment geochemistry indicates that a steady state in the lake development was reached around 4600 BP. Major increases in Zn and Cu that was presumed to be from modern mining was observed from 1800 CE. This report concludes that Fe-rich dolomite or skarn was mined from 500 CE with indications that mining started as early as 2000 BP.