in Norway and in Canada, 121 



per ores has given rise, since the beginning of the 16th cen- 

 tury, to the establishment of six different copper works or 

 mining establishments ; all of which however, with but one 

 exception, that of Aamdal, are abandoned. In describing the 

 various mineral deposits, I shall only refer to those of most 

 importance, neglecting alt ^g etlier the innumerable localities of 

 less value. The mines about to be described are those belonging 

 to the copper works of Guldn^es, Aamdal, flvideseid, Sauiand 

 and Hovindbygden. 



The deposit on which the Giiklnaes mines occur, is probably 

 the most important of the whole district. It is situated on the 

 southwest side of Sundsbarm Lake, in the parish of Sillegjord, at 

 least 1500 feet above the sea, and inaccessible, unless to the foot 

 traveller. It has the form of a layer, and lies between a bed of 

 quartzite, and one of clay slate. It has a length of about 100 

 fathoms, and a breadth of about 100 feet, and is composed 

 of a flesh-red and sometimes greenish-white aggregation of 

 quartz, feldspar and talc ; in which purple copper and copper 

 pyrites are more or less abundantly disseminated. The ore is 

 found in irregular nests and veins, quartz accompanying it in 

 the latter. These irregular bunches of ore are frequently found 

 in such quantity, as to render the whole mass of the layer worthy 

 of excavation. There is not much of the rock with finely dis- 

 seminated mineral, and the ore is much more suited for be- 

 ing dressed by means of crushing and jigging, than by stamping 

 and washing. The latter processes were nevertheless those em- 

 ployed when the mines were being worked, and this may partially 

 account for the unsuccessful result. The copper ores occurring 

 here are argentiferous ; the metallic copper resulting from their 

 treatment, containing one per cent, of silver. 



The mines belonging to the Aamdal copper works are very nu- 

 merous ; the most important of them being HofFnung mine, Naes- 

 mark mine and Mosnap mine. The works themselves, are situated 

 1 300 feet above the sea,on the river called Vierkselven, in the parish 

 of Skafse ; which is subordinate to that of Mo. Hoflfnung mine 

 lies about 160 feel higher, near the junction of a gneissoid gran- 

 ite, of eruptive origin, with the primitive slates. The two lodes 

 containing the ore, occur on both sides of a layer of hornblende 

 schist ; which varies from two to six feet in thickness, and has a fall 

 of from 50° to 60^ to the W.N.W. They run parallel with the 

 strata, and the lode underlying the hornblende schist is the most 



