Åmdals Verk Gruver

Åmdals Verk Mines

Useful Information

Location:	Åmdals Verk, Tokke, Telemark. From Vrådal follow RV38 30 km towards Dalen.
Open:	30-MAY to 15-AUG daily 10-17. 16-AUG to 29-MAY by appointment. [2005]
Fee:	Per person NOK 300, minimum fee for groups NOK 6000. [2005]
Classification:	Copper Mine
Light:	Incandescent
Dimension:
Guided tours:	L=1,200 m (by foot), 600 m (by train).
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:	Birger Bastiansen (1986): Åmdals gamle kobberværk 1540-1945, NAGS-nytt, Norges Amatørgeologer Sammenslutning, 1986/1, pp 4-15 Freddy Egsæter (1984): Rallardag ved Åmdals verk 8/8-84, NAGS-nytt, Norges Amatørgeologer Sammenslutning, 1984/2, pp 35.
Address:	Åmdals Verk Gruver, Vest-Telemark Museum, 3880 Dalen, Tel: +47-350-77331, Fax: +47-350-77085. E-mail: Olav Døli, Tel: +47-350-79350, E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1540	mine founded, after when King Christian III of Denmark-Norway sent German miners to Telemark.
1945	mine closed.

Description

The mine at Åmdals Verk is one of the oldest mine in Norway. It was founded in 1540 by German miners, who were brought to Telemark by King Christian III of Denmark-Norway. He tried to develop the mining industry in Norway.

Today there is a museum, which is a reconstruction of an old skeidehuset. The museum shows mining tools, photographs, drawings and documents related to the mining. A topographic model of the mine area and models of mine buildings and mining machines show, how copper was processed. There is also a geologic exhibition and a mineral collection.

The underground mine tour starts several times a day, and the visitors use a 600mm gauge railway to enter the mine. Then a 1,200 m tour shows the mining of the copper ore. Impressive are the parts of the mine which followed the 45° seams. Wooden stairs allow to walk on the roof-like floor of the mine.