Mining and mineral production

Finland has a long history of mining activity, and Finnish metallurgical technology and manufacturers of mining equipment are well known throughout the international mining community. The exploitation of copper, nickel, cobalt, zinc and lead ores as well as chromium, vanadium and iron deposits has provided the raw material base for the country's metal industry, with significant processing and refining of copper and nickel concentrates at Harjavalta, zinc at Kokkola, and chromium at Kemi, and of iron at Raahe. The major industrial minerals mined in Finland are carbonates, apatite and talc.

• Mining history dates back to 1540 when iron ore mining commenced
• Some 270 metal mines have been in operation
• Total output has been 250 million tons of ore (66% sulfide and 34% oxide ores)
• Main commodities have been: Cu, Ni, Zn, Co, Cr, Fe, V
• Industrial mineral operations include limestone, apatite, talc, quartz, feldspar and wollastonite
• Well established mineral processing and refining plants exist for Cu, Ni, Zn, Co, Cr & Fe ores as well as for phosphorus fertilizers, titanium pigments & coating carbonates

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