Mining in Sweden
The mining industry in Sweden has a history dating back 6,000 years. Historically, Sweden's most famous mine is the copper Falun Mine in Dalarna, which made a significant contribution to the Swedish economy for several centuries. Sweden today is one of the largest sources of iron ore in Europe, with approximately 90% of Europe's iron and 5% of the world's iron reserves. Geology Most of Sweden's landmass is geologically part of the Baltic Shield, which also covers Fennoscandia and northwest parts of Russia. The Baltic Shield has the oldest rock in Europe, and is one of the largest and most active mining areas on the European continent. Most Swedish mines are in the Baltic Shield. The shield, because of its resemblance to the Canadian Shield and cratons in South Africa, is also a source of gold and diamonds. Copper Sweden has a long history of mining, dating back thousands of years. Sweden's earliest mining company was Stora Kopparberg, which operated on the copper Falun Mine, the most famous mine in Sweden. It was the source of the pigment falu red that painted castles, churches and cottages still seen throughout Sweden. Income from the Falun mine funded almost all of Sweden's