The story of Røros Copper Works

This whole town grew up around copper. Mining began here in 1644, and in 1647 the Crown declared Røros a mining town and put Joachim Irgens von Westervick in charge, with rights to the forests and water within a circle 90 kilometres across. Local farmers were obliged to work for the copper works, hauling loads and making charcoal.

Mines with names like Storwartz, Olavsgruven and Kongens Gruve yielded a total of 110,000 tonnes of copper over the years. In 1685 silver was found as well, and for about 40 years it brought considerable revenue to the Danish-Norwegian treasury, helping King Frederick IV build the palace of Solbjerg. Dynamite was used from 1870, the Rørosbanen railway was completed in 1877, and power lines reached the mines from 1897. High prices for copper and zinc brought good years, but when prices fell there were years of heavy losses.

After 333 years, mining at Røros came to an end in 1977.