Storbergets gruvor


Useful Information

Location: Stollvägen 53, 813 96 Torsåker.
At Långnås near Hofors.
(60.527013, 16.392172)
Open: MAY to 10-JUN after appointment.
11-JUN to 21-JUN daily 14.
25-JUN to 05-AUG daily 13, 14, 15.
06-AUG to 12-AUG daily 13.
13-AUG to end of season after appointment.
The mine is open every year as long as it is accessible.
[2007]
Fee: Adults SEK 40, Children (7-16) SEK 20, Children (0-6) free.
Groups (10+): Adults SEK 30, School Pupils SEK 10, Minimum Fee SEK 400.
[2007]
Classification: MineIron Mine MineCopper Mine MineManganese Mine MineCobalt Mine
Light: LightIncandescent Electric Light System
Dimension: L=265 m, VR=70 m.
Guided tours:  
Photography:  
Accessibility: no
Bibliography:  
Address: Booking: FoCus Turistbyrå, Folkets Hus, Skolgatan 21, 813 30 Hofors, Tel: +46-290-77-14-01. E-mail:
Storberget och Stollgången, Stollvägen 53, 813 96 Torsåker.
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

1363 King Albrecht von Mecklenburg complains that the miners do not pay tax for mining "in the ancient mines on the great Iron Mountain".
1880s mining in Penningegruvan ended.
1920 mining resumed for a short time.
1980 last mine Vingesbacke closed.

Geology

Description

The Storbergets gruvor (Stor Mountain Mining District) has around 60 historic open cast mines. Some are only a few meters deep, some are almost 200 m deep. Mining started in the 17th century, using the ancient technique of heating and cooling the ore with fires and water.

Penningegruvan is the deepest mine here, and it is open to the public. The tour is called Stollgången Mine, named after a 265 m long mine tunnel. It is a drainage tunnel or adit which was built in the late 18th century, the Swedish miners term for adit is stollen, which is actually a German term they learned from German miners. The guide explains the working conditions in this mine during the 18th century. And the guides tell mysterious tales of ghosts and hobgoblins which were found during the mining inside the mountain. The tour at the bottom of the deep mine with light coming from far above is quite impressive. Other mines are used for climbing by local extreme sports organizers.