Overview

Mine Type	Underground
Status	Active
Commodities	Graphite
Mining Method	Longhole open stoping
Backfill type	...
Production Start	...
Mine Life	...
Snapshot	Skaland mine is the largest flake graphite producer in Europe and the fourth-largest producer globally outside of China. Skaland is presently one of the world's highest-grade operating flake graphite mines with mill feed grade averaging around 24% Carbon. Skaland accounts for around 2% of global annual natural flake graphite production. In 2023, unplanned delays included mining fleet breakdowns, deferral of mining while the haul road from the mine to the main road was being resurfaced, breakdown of the Skaland primary ore production drill rig, and breakdown of the primary AG mill for Skaland ore processing. Skaland's plans for 2024 include the purchase of a new production drill rig.

Deposit type

• Metamorphic

Summary:

The Trælen deposit lies on the northern tip of the Skaland peninsula and consists of two main and related lithological units. The tectonostratigraphically lower unit is a banded gneiss with alternating biotite rich and granitic bands (locally termed "Trælen Gneiss") and an upper unit that consists of amphibolitic gneiss. These are heterogeneous hornblende gneisses with graphite horizons, possibly metamorphic greywacke, and calciferous rocks. Both units contain granitic orthogneisses, possibly a result of partial melting of the surrounding rocks. Quartz diorites and different types of pegmatites occur as well, forming discontinuous intrusions.

The graphite found in the upper unit is assumed to be primarily syngenetic and later exposed to tectonic activity leading to its present textural, mineralogical, geochemical, and geometric characteristics.

The mineralised horizon is isoclinally folded and the thickest, most continuous mineralisation occurs as lens shaped bodies oriented parallel to the main fold axis. This horizon contains the most economically interesting instances of graphite at Trælen and can vary between centimeters and up to 25m thick. There is minor graphite found in faults and along shears. There are minor exploration targets to the south and west of the current Trælen Deposit, which may represent either a further fold of the same horizon, or a second mineralised horizon.

The rocks in the area have been exposed to at least three phases of folding and deformations. D1 developed the main foliation, D2 is responsible for the majority of the large scale folding structures in the region and D3 which is the last folding phase responsible at Trælen for the folds with a fold axis dipping 30 to 90 degrees towards west-northwest.

Dimensions
The mineralised shoots consist of four 2-20m wide moderately plunging shoots, folded around a moderately plunging double anticline system.
100 Shoot:
• Length: 725m
• Width: 80-160m
• Depth to surface: +330m to -250m below sea level, from 0m to 75m inside mountain

200 Shoot:
• Length: 190m
• Width: 55m
• Depth to surface: +140m to -130m below sea level, from 10m to 50m inside mountain

300 Shoot:
• Length: 310m
• Width: 30m
• Depth to surface: +140m to -60m below sea level, from 100m to 130m inside mountain

400 Shoot:
• Length: 268m
• Width: 50m

Depth to surface: +140m to -150m below sea level, from 20m to 100m inside mountain

Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

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Processing

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Production

Commodity	Units	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
Graphite	kt	....	....	....	....	9.8

Operational metrics

Metrics	2023	2022	2021	2020	2019
Hourly processing rate	....	....	....	....	8 t
Annual production capacity	....	....	....	....
Ore tonnes mined	....	....	....	....	31,000 t
Waste	....	....	....	....	13,500 t
Total tonnes mined	....	....	....	....	44,500 t
Tonnes processed	....	....	....	....	37,088 t

Personnel

Job Title	Name	Profile	Ref. Date
.......................	.......................		Aug 6, 2024

Employees	Year
......	2021