Engebøfjellet
Exploration history
RutilNett
Events related to the mining of eclogite for use as breakwater material and heavy aggregate are not included in this list.
| 1975 |
The Elkem geologist Hans-Peter Geis was probably the first geologist to recognize the Engebøfjell eclogite as a rutile deposit in the early ‘70’s. He made a sampling profile through the Engebøfjellet road-tunnel. |
| 1978-1979 |
Additional sampling was done within a cooperation project between NGU and Elkem on rutile-bearing eclogites in Sunnfjord. |
| 1984-1985 |
Several companies were active at Engebøfjellet in the mid-80’s investigating the rutile possibilities. |
| 1990 |
NGU made a W-E sampling profile along the deposit (Korneliussen and Furuhaug 1991). |
| 1991-1992 |
R. McLimans (DuPont), S. Parr (Stokke Industri) and A. Korneliussen (NGU) visited Engebøfjellet on a rutile/eclogite excursion in W. Norway. This lead to the establishment of a collaboration project between DuPont/Conoco and NGU tojointly investigate the rutile potential of eclogites in W.Norway. |
| 1995 |
DuPont/Conoco and the local company Fjord Blokk, made an agreement for a joint rutile investigation of Engebøfjellet, followed by core-drilling, beneficiation tests, surface sampling and geologic mapping activities. At first, the intent was to drill 400 m in the eastern part of Engebøfjellet near Fjord Blokk's quarry and financial support was given by the Prospecting Fund. The drilling started in October 1995. Shortlyafterwards, the drilling program was extended. |
| 1996-1997 |
Continued investigations of the rutile potential incl. 15,000 meters of core drilling, gravimetric investigations, structural and lithological mapping and mineralogical investigations |
| End of 1997 |
DuPont stopped the project. |
| 2000+ |
Various activities in "the rutile network" (Rutilnett) coordinated by county geologist Bjørn Russenes |