Flogberget Mines

To find valuable metals in the mountains, people in the past used various methods. One was to look for a “floga” – a green flame that lit up the sky. It was believed that the floga was a dragon living deep inside the mountain, guarding a treasure. In Flogberget, outside Ludvika, a floga had been seen, leading people to believe a dragon lived in the mountain. And that’s how Flogberget got its name.
 

Like many other mines in Bergslagen, mining in Flogberget began in the 1600s. However, when the ore didn’t meet the desired quality, operations were eventually shut down. Several attempts were made to restart mining in Flogberget, but each time the results were disappointing.
 

In the early 1900s, Flogberget mine became interesting again. Johan Gustaf Gröndal, one of the leading metallurgists of the time, was contacted. He specialized in extracting as much iron as possible from lower-quality ore. His idea was to crush the ore into sand, called “slig.” Using large magnets, the metal grains were separated from the sand grains that didn’t contain iron.
Since the crushed ore couldn’t be melted directly, it was pressed into briquettes, which could then be heated in a blast furnace and melted into iron.
The crushing plant, ore-dressing facility (which separated iron from the sand), and briquette factory were all powered by electricity, a relatively new invention at the time. A cableway was also built to transport the briquettes from the mine to the Hagge railway station, where they were loaded onto trains and sent to smelters.
 

By 1906, everything was ready in Flogberget. With great pomp and ceremony, the new modern mine was inaugurated. Crown Prince Gustav, who later became King Gustav V, attended the inauguration. The reopening of Flogberget Mines was filled with hope for the future.
But progress in society couldn’t be controlled. In 1918, when World War I ended, Flogberget mine had to close.
 

Today, no iron ore is mined in Flogberget. Instead, it has become a popular tourist attraction.
 

FLOGBERGET’S INGENIOUS WATER DRAINAGE
The mine shafts in Flogberget are located around a mountain peak between two lakes. When the miners dug so deep that water began to flow into the mine, they came up with the idea of letting it drain through a tunnel into one of the lakes. This eliminated the need to pump out water, as was required in many other mines. Instead, the water drained naturally.
 

Facts
One of Sweden’s most fascinating mining environments, featuring open pits and tunnels, with mining dating back to the 1600s. Visitors can explore three different mining techniques: fire-setting, gunpowder blasting, and dynamite blasting. Open for self-guided visits. The site is well-signposted. Guided tours are available in the summer, including popular children’s tours.
For tour information: Smedjebacken Municipality, +46 (0)240 – 66 00 00