Dybedalsgruva

Useful Information

Location:	Løkkebakken 8, 3770 Kragerø. (58.8693721, 9.4093401)
Open:	no restrictions. Mine passage closed until further notice for safety reasons. [2026]
Fee:	free. [2026]
Classification:	Apatite Mine, Gea Norvegica Unesco Global Geopark
Light:	Electric Light
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided
Photography:	allowed
Accessibility:	no
Bibliography:
Address:	Dybedalsgruva, Løkkebakken 8, 3770 Kragerø, Tel: +47-35-98-62-00. E-mail: Gea Norvegica UNESCO Global Geopark, Torget 20, 3970 Langesund, Tel: +47-913-88-445. 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

1854	mining started by the English company Evans and Atkins from Birmingham.
1859	end of mining.
1890	mine reopened.

Geology

Description

Dybedalsgruva (Dybedals mine), also named Dybedals apatittgruve, is a geotope of the Gea Norvegica Geopark. The mine has a large open cast and two mine passages extending 50 m to the west and 40 m to the north. It was operated only a few years, from 1854 to 1859, by the English firm Evans and Atkins from Birmingham. They mined about 5000 tonnes of apatite. They also operated nickel mines in Bramble. The company withdrew in 1860 and those mines were subsequently operated by the brothers Tellef and Johan Martin Dahll from Kragerø. At Kragerø there were actually three apatite mines, which were located very closely, named Dypedal, Løkken and Haukedal. The Dahll company re-established operations of the apatite mines around 1890.

Apatite is a phosphate mineral and was used as fertilizer, especially during the First World War the mining was quite important. Such mines are quite rae, actually do not yet have an explanatory page, and this is actually the only apatite mine we have listed. The mineral is sometimes mined as a by product in iron mines. In the slag heaps the interesting mineral rutile was found. Around 1900 the mining of rutile was established at several places along the coast from Bamble to Tvedestrand. This included the Dybedalsgruva. Rutile was used in the paint industry and for the colouring of porcelain.

The site is freely accessible, but the mine passage is currently [2026] closed until further notice for safety reasons. Contact the Cultural Department of Kragerø Municipality for more information.