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New map showing areas of mineral potential and mining in Fennoscandia

The Metallogenic Map of the Fennoscandian Shield shows areas of metal deposits and probable future metal ore discoveries in the Fennoscandian Shield. The map has been produced for use as a tool in selecting strategic areas for mineral exploration as well as for research in economic geology.

Importantly, it will also serve as a tool for political decision-making, since it indicates the areas with the greatest potential for future metal mines in northern Europe. Thereby, it also acts as a tool for fulfilling the requirements set by the Raw Materials Initiative of the European Union, and for similar objectives set by the non-EU countries in the region.

The new map contains 168 major metallogenic areas, of which 46 are entirely or mostly in Finland, 40 are in Norway, 41 in Russia, and 41 in Sweden. These include 24 areas that cross international borders. In terms of metal groups, there are 48 areas showing potential for ferrous metals (Fe, Mn, Ti, V, Cr), 36 for copper, zinc or lead (Cu, Zn, Pb), 31 for precious metals (Ag, Au, PGE), 30 for nickel or cobalt (Ni, Co), and 11 for metals mostly used in modern, advanced technologies (‘high-tech metals’ Li, PGE, REE, Ta, Zr).

Metal exploration and mining potential is shown on the map by two types of metallogenic areas: ‘Areas of good exploration potential’ include most of the known occurrences, past and present mines, and bedrock assumed to contain more deposits. Within these domains with good potential, the areas with the ‘highest potential for new discoveries’ are indicated separately.

The marking of both types of metallogenic areas on the Fennoscandia map indicates which areas have the best potential for future metal mines. However, about 15% of the known occurrences are located outside the metallogenic areas. This indicates that there are possibilities for future discoveries elsewhere, although the potential is currently considered to be lower than within the designated metallogenic areas. In some regions outside the metallogenic areas, few deposits have been discovered despite a lot of effort, whereas in other areas it is the low amount of exploration activities that could account for the apparently low potential for metal mines. The latter may also be the case for a number of metallogenic areas which have yet to benefit from modern exploration methods.

The metallogenic areas cover about 25% of the Fennoscandian Shield, distributed fairly evenly between the countries. Of the entire Fennoscandian Shield, the areas containing ferrous metals cover 5%, and the areas containing copper, zinc and lead cover 8%, precious metals 4%, nickel and cobalt 5%, and high-tech metal 2%.

• In Finland, 9% of the land area has a good or very good exploration potential for Cu and Zn, and likewise 9% for Ni and Co, and 8% for precious metals.
• In Norway, the corresponding values are 10% for Cu, Zn, and Pb, 6% for Ni and 4% for Fe and Ti.
• In Russia, the values are 9% for Fe, Ti and V, 5% for precious metals, and 5% for high-tech metals.
• Likewise in Sweden, the figures are 8% for Cu, Zn, and Pb, 6% for Fe and Ti, and 4% for precious metals. These figures are just a small selection of the detailed information available on the metallogenic map and they highlight the large potential, extent and variation in exploration and mining opportunities in the region.

The Metallogenic Map of the Fennoscandian Shield was compiled in a joint project by the geological surveys of Finland, Norway, Russia and Sweden. It is based on information in the national ore deposit and ore indication databases as well as information contained in other geological databases of each country. Another key data source in drawing up the new map was the Fennoscandian Ore Deposit Database, which was compiled and published by the same consortium two years ago and is available at http://en.gtk.fi/ExplorationFinland/fodd/.

The new map is available from the national geological surveys of Finland, Norway, Russia and Sweden, and on the Internet (http://en.gtk.fi/ExplorationFinland/fodd/). In addition, the data used in drawing up the map is accessible on the Internet at the same Web address. The site has a zoom function and both deposit and metallogenic belt-scale information can be accessed.

Contacts for further information:

In Finland: Senior Scientist Pasi Eilu, Geological Survey of Finland (Phone +358 40 8649 165, pasi.eilu gtk.fi)
In Norway: Dr Morten Often, Geological Survey of Norway (Phone +47 73 90 40 00, morten.often ngu.no)
In Sweden: Dr Anders Hallberg, Geological Survey of Sweden, (Phone +46 70 346 02 34, Anders.hallberg sgu.se)
In Russia: Director Nikolay Philippov (Phone +7 812 322 79 22, nikolay.philippov scmin.spb.ru)