Tellnes mines - One of the world's largest

Tellnes is an open pit in Sokndal where you can experience the world's largest ilmenite-norite intrusion. Since it is economically viable, it is called ore. The ore intrusion still contains (after almost 60 years of operation) more than 300 million tonnes of ore and there are plans for more than 60 years of further operation.

Geology and nature

The ore slopes slightly downwards to the east. The break is approx. 2 km long, 1 km wide and 200 meters deep. The bottom pallet is approx. at elevation 40. Through the quarry and the ore there are two basalt tunnels which are approx. 300 million years younger than the ore (dated approx. 618 million years), which crystallized approx. 920 million years ago. The three minerals ilmenite, orthopyroxene and plagioclase make up most of the ilmenite norite ore with approx. 1/3 each. This means that with optimal production you will get approx. 1 million tonnes of ilmenite product if you dump more than 3 million tonnes of ore into the coarse crusher. The side rock on both sides of the ore is anorthosite. The anorthosite, which mainly consists of the mineral plagioclase, crystallized approx. 10 million years before the ore intruded it. This happened in approx. 20 kilometers deep during the end of the Svekonorwegian orogeny.

Culture and history

Titania's history goes all the way back to 1902 when the company was formed as a development company to look at the ore deposits in the area. Ore was taken from, among other places, Blåfjell and Laksedal and sent for trial smelting in various places. In 1916, construction of the plant began at Sandbekk and a couple of years later the first boat load of ilmenite left Jøssingfjord. Fully investigated ilmenite went in waves over the heath from Sandbekk to Jøssingfjord. By-products such as silicon and magnetite went by electric train to Rekefjord for shipment there. Production at Sandbekk lasted right up to 1965, and at most up to 450 men worked in the various production stages to process the ore in Sandbekk. Sandbekk was operated as a mine and there are several tens of kilometers of mine tunnels in the mountain below Sandbekk.

In 1960, Titania started up at Tellnes in an open quarry. Production picked up calmly and at most more than 13 million tonnes of stone have been moved a year at Tellnes, of which almost 3 million tonnes of ore. At most, up to 300 men have worked at Tellnes in a male-dominated working environment, but over the years more and more women have joined the workforce. The dimensions at Tellnes are impressive with the enormous quarry and the large machines. The dumpers can take up to 180 tonnes in a load and the loader can load up to 30 tonnes in a bucket.

A bit about sustainable mining

Throughout history, mining has been a source of conflict. On the one hand, we need minerals and stone in industry to produce products we depend on and to build roads and infrastructure, while on the other hand, mining has created major environmental problems in many places. Almost 40% of all commercial activities in the world depend on resources we get from the earth. Mining will never be completely sustainable, but using tailings and deposited masses for various purposes and with increased reuse, the company can, through positive development over a few years, become almost sustainable.

How to get there?

Parking: Only possible with access on a booked tour by bus with a qualified guide.

Accessibility: 1 hour by car or bus from Egersund and Flekkefjord. Easy trip where you only move in and out of the bus.

Duration: The visit itself takes 1 – 1.5 hours by bus to the vantage point over the breach and down Hommedal (crushing building, flotation building and laboratory) and out to the departure.

Here is Tellnes

Category:
Geopark, Magma Geopark Sites, Sokndal