Metals are elements that easily give up electrons and form metallic bonds. Metals conduct electricity and heat, and are characterized by properties such as high density, high melting points, and metallic luster.
The main types of metals include:
- Precious metals; like gold, silver, and somewhat more unusual metals in the platinum group.
- Iron, titanium, and iron alloy metals, such as manganese, chromium, nickel, cobalt, vanadium, molybdenum, and tungsten.
- Base metals; including copper, zinc, lead, arsenic, antimony, bismuth, and tin.
- Specialty metals; such as niobium, tantalum, beryllium, lithium, scandium, and rare earth elements.
- Other metals; for example, mercury, cesium, silicon, and aluminum.
What metallic raw materials are extracted in Norway?
There has been mining for a variety of metallic raw materials in Norway.
The following have been mined and concentrated:
- Iron.
- Silver.
- Copper.
- Cobalt.
- Nickel.
- Lead.
- Zinc.
- Titanium.
- Chromium.
- Molybdenum.
- Niobium.
- Tungsten (also called Wolfram).
- Gold.
Until the 1980s, metals were the most important raw materials for the Norwegian mining industry.
Today, the main operations are on iron titanium oxide ilmenite in Sokndal in Rogaland, and on iron oxide hematite in Rana in Nordland. These ores are processed into highly specialized products.
In Sokndal, the ore is refined for the production of white pigment, while Rana produces raw materials for the manufacture of iron and steel products, among others.