Owned by Selection Mines Limited , Varuträsk is a well-known, well-researched pegmatite outside the town of Skellefteå in Northern Sweden

History

The site was discovered in 1932 when hunter Harald Holmgren came across a complex white pegmatite formation while out hunting. That autumn, four men were hired to begin mining the pegmatite. However, they quickly encountered a problem: the rock was so tough that their drill bits kept breaking. Seeking a solution, they turned to the mining giant Boliden for advice at their nearby Rönnskär Smelter.

Harald, the mine owner, eventually learned how to sharpen the drill bits himself, which significantly improved productivity. At the time, workers earned 0.50 SEK per hour, amounting to 4 SEK per day (about 40 US cents). Well above the average wage for laborers. During the excavation, they discovered a purple-colored stone, which was identified as lepidolite, a lithium-bearing mica mineral.

1936–1946: Boliden Takes Over

In 1936, mining giant Boliden acquired the rights to mine the site. For the next ten years, a team of 20 men worked each summer, extracting ore from underground. Lithium was particularly sought after at the time and was used in various applications, including catalysts and the production of synthetic rubber. The mine is known to contain around 40 different types of minerals, six of which are lithium-bearing.

Boliden offered Harald 60,000 SEK for ownership of the mine, equivalent to approximately 2.2 million SEK today. However, Harald declined the offer. Instead, he negotiated to receive 1 SEK per ton of ore mined and requested that two of his relatives be employed by Boliden. Over the following decade, Boliden extracted 28,900 tons of ore, much to Harald’s disapproval. Harald passed away in 1970.

Modern Exploration

Today, as the world undergoes a green transition, the minerals found in the mine have taken on new importance. Lithium is now used in batteries for electric devices, cesium is essential for precision timekeeping, and tantalum plays a critical role in the manufacturing of mobile phones.

Today, a business has been established that offers guided tours of the historic mine. Mineral collectors can also pay a fee to search for and keep specimens, making it a popular destination for both enthusiasts and tourists.

The project is located along Sweden’s renowned “Gold Line,” not far from the Boliden mine, which has produced over 4 million ounces of gold at an average grade of 16 g/t. The surrounding region features extensive greenstone belts and is geologically rich, with numerous fractionated pegmatites and granitic formations found to the north.