LKAB's deposit even bigger

Per Geijer is an iron ore deposit where there are also high levels of both phosphorus and rare earth elements. The levels of rare earth metals are ten times higher than in the ore being mined today in Kiruna.

“Since the turn of the year alone, we have succeeded in significantly increasing mineral resources for iron, phosphorus and rare earth elements. And we haven’t seen the end of the discovery. With what we see today, a future mining operation could provide an increase in service life of at least 20 to 30 years, it will be crucial to be able to continue operating in Kiruna,” says Jan Moström, CEO of LKAB. 

LKAB reports today that the deposit contains mineral resources of 734 million tons of iron ore, with high iron content and more than 1.3 million tons of rare earth oxides. 

When it was announced in January 2023, the deposit was the largest reported rare earth deposit in Europe. Europe is now heavily dependent on imports of rare earths from China. The fact that the deposit contains iron ore as a base makes it even more interesting. Without the iron ore, it would not be profitable to mine phosphorus and rare earth elements here.

If the application for a processing concession is approved, LKAB may continue to develop the deposit and prepare for an environmental permit application.

“However, this does not mean that we get permission to start a mine. The processing concession is also only one part of the complex Swedish review system. The permit process is beginning and having worked in the area for more than 130 years we are now seeking the first permit for Per Geijer, to give LKAB the exclusive right to continue investigating this fantastic mineralisation,” says Jan Moström.

Lennart Håkansson

editor@northswedenbusiness.com