Hornkullens gruvor

Hornkullens Silvergruvor - Hornkullens Silvergruva

Useful Information

Location:	Hornkullen 22, 680 90 Nykroppa. 2 km north of Nykroppa, southeast of Filipstad. From Filipstad follow RV26 south, turn left into Kungsvägen to Nykroppa, again left into Hornkullsvägen, 2 km to mine. Signposted. (59.654287, 14.277371)
Open:	JUN to AUG Mon-Thu, Sun 11-17. [2020]
Fee:	Adults SEK 50, Children (6-15) SEK 20. [2007]
Classification:	Silver Mine
Light:	Incandescent Electric Light System
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:	S. S. Andersson, E. Jonsson, K. Högdahl (2016): Metamorphism and deformation of a Palaeoproterozoic polymetallic sulphide–oxide mineralisation: Hornkullen, Bergslagen, Sweden. GFF, 138(3), 410-423. DOI pdf Thomas Wagner, Erik Jonsson, Adrian Boyce (2005): Metamorphic ore remobilization in the Hällefors district, Bergslagen, Sweden: Constraints from mineralogical and small-scale sulphur isotope studies. Mineralium Deposita. 40. 100-114. DOI researchgate
Address:	Nykroppa Framtid, Kennet Rydén, Mossängsvägen 2, 680 90 Nykroppa, Tel: +46-590-41040, Fax: +46-590-42020. Hornkullens gruvor, Kjell Falk, Tel: +46-70-2841676, Tel: +46-70-6541108. Kroppa Hembygdsförening, Brevik, 68090 Nykroppa, Tel: +46-70-350-07-71. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

~1350	start of mining, according to legend.
1570s	silver mines worked by a Nils Smed.
1580	mines worked by Hertig (Duke) Karl.
1582	mining field Lasse and so-called Long Mine mentioned.
1604	end of mining because it was not profitable.
1664	mining restarted.
1670s	mining ended because it was not profitable.
1699-1707	another failed attempt.
1844	mining revived by a company named Hornkulls Silfver Werk.
1847	end of mining.
1986	mine Dunderkammaren pumped dry after 150 years.
2021	closed for renovation.

Geology

The ores at Hornkullen are polymetallic sulphide–oxide mineralisations in the westernmost part of the Bergslagen ore province. The Filipstad granite, which belongs to the Transscandinavian Igneous Belt is about 1.8 Ga old. It contains an inlier of Svecofennian (1.9 Ga) skarn-bearing metavolcanic units. The Ag- and Au-bearing mineralisation is dominated by magnetite, pyrrhotite, galena, chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite. Other minerals are pyrite, sphalerite, ilmenite, and löllingite. Gudmundite, pentlandite and molybdenite are also found. The mineralisation was most likely formed syn-volcanic, at the time of the formation of the surrounding rocks. The granite caused metamorphism of those rocks and remobilised the ores.

Description

Hornkullens Silvergruva (Hornkullens silver mine) was mined since the 14th century, at least according to legend. The silver ore was melted both in Nykroppa and Herrhult.

There are numerous mines in the area, which are mostly filled with groundwater. The bigger mines are Dunderkammaren north and south, Thors hål, Smedsgruvorna, Södra Nygruvan, and Norra Nygruvan. The smaller mines are Omrguvan, Tvättgruvan, Klippgruvorna and Ahlgruvan. The show mine is Dunderkammaren, which was pumped dry in 1986 after 150 years by the enthusiasts of the association Nykroppa Framtid. The most interesting discovery was a bar-driven wooden pump. The mine was opened for visitors during summer. It is necessary to bilge pump the mine every spring since then to operate the show mine. The mine was closed for renovation in 2021, currently we have no info when it will be reopened, but most likely it will be in 2022.

The early mining of the area is not documented, so there are only guesses that it started probably during the mid 14th century. The first documents appear around 1580 when the mining was operated by the local noble Hertig (Duke) Karl. But it seems the mines were not profitable and so the mning was taken over by the German miner Christoffer Graff (*1550-✝1622). But the mining nevertheless stopped in 1604, a result of the unfortunate structure of the deposit. Between 1582 and 1604 the mines produced 400-500 kg of silver.

Another attempt to mine for silver was started in 1664 and ended in the 1670s, again it was not profitable. And another attempt between 1699 and 1707 by miner Johan Kiällman failed. An attempt in the 1730s by Commercial Councilor Olof von Törne and Lieutenant Colonel Johan de Frietzcky was unsuccessful until they finally discovered an up to two meters wide ore seam. But the silver rush ended after only one or two years, when the small orebody was mined out. There were other attempts, but all failed.

The show mine Dunderkammaren was started around 1844 by a company named Hornkulls Silfver Werk. They built a water wheel for pumping the groundwater out of the mine 500 m to the southwest and a forge. In 1845, 77 ship pounds of lined ore were mined. Again it was not profitable and in 1847 the mine was finally closed.