{"id":14063,"date":"2023-01-24T09:37:09","date_gmt":"2023-01-24T09:37:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.lofoten.com\/uncategorized\/the-mining-operation-at-matmora-large-investments-without-profit\/"},"modified":"2024-09-27T11:12:30","modified_gmt":"2024-09-27T11:12:30","slug":"the-mining-operation-at-matmora-large-investments-without-profit","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lofoten.com\/en\/lofoten-en\/our-history\/the-mining-operation-at-matmora-large-investments-without-profit\/","title":{"rendered":"The mining operation at Matmora: Large investments without profit<\/strong>"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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“Here, the correct path was taken in reverse: First, expensive plants were built, then they started studying the volume of ore, which turned out not to correspond to expectations.”<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Professor of geology, Thorolf Vogt, summed up the history of mining at Matmora in this way.<\/p>\n\n

Went all out, with cable car, railway, quay and 129 employees<\/h4>\n\n

In 1905, the company “The Norwegian Iron Ore Company Limited” was established.\nThe company had Dutch ownership but was run by Norwegians in Norway.\nThe purpose of the company was to acquire and operate a mining company. <\/p>\n\n

The company built a cable car, railway and quay at the Matmora plant.\nThe ropeway transported the ore from the mines and down the mountain, where it was loaded onto trains and transported by rail all the way down to the quay in Vatnfjorden. <\/p>\n\n

There were 129 people working at the site under the leadership of two engineers.<\/p>\n\n

In spite of the major investment, the Dutch gave up the entire operation shortly after start-up.\nProfitability was too poor.\nBy then they had extracted 270 tons of iron ore. <\/p>\n\n

New owners with major upgrades<\/h4>\n\n

At the beginning of 1907, an Austrian company took over the entire mining and railroad facility.\nThey moved the mining operations further up the mountain, to Rangeldalen.\nLarge parts of the railway route were reused and two steam locomotives were purchased. <\/p>\n\n

In the first period, the ore was transported by cable car down from the mines in Rangeldalen.\nIn 1908, three braking tracks were built down to the reloading station at Jorden.\nThe brake tracks were 900 meters long in total.\nFurthermore, the railway line from Jorden to Vatnfjorden was 4.4 kilometers long. <\/p>\n\n

At Vatnfjorden, a 300 meter long quay with railway tracks was built.\nThe quay area also had a local boat landing and a post office<\/a>.\nHousing was built for all employees at the plant.\nThe miners lived in barracks, while the clerks were given slightly nicer homes. <\/p>\n\n

In 1908, up to 380 people worked at the plant.<\/p>\n\n

The closure<\/h4>\n\n

The Austrians aimed to extract several million tons of iron ore, but the result was only 7414 tons.<\/p>\n\n

The work was shut down in May 1909 and operations were completely discontinued in 1912.<\/p>\n\n

<\/p>\n\n

Mountain hike to Matmora along the old mining facility<\/h4>\n\n

Mining in the area has left traces that are still visible.\nToday you can take a walk along the disused railway and in the brake tracks.\nOn your way to the top of Matmora, you’ll also pass the mine openings. <\/p>\n\n

16 kilometers north from Svolv\u00e6r, turn left towards Laukvik.\nFollow this road for 12 kilometers until you have passed Sandsletta camping.\nThen you will quickly find a hiking trail on the right. <\/p>\n\n

Have a good trip!<\/p>\n\n

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Sources <\/h5>\n\n