Norra Kärr
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Norra Kärr or Norra Kärr Alkaline Complex is an intrusive complex cropping out at the boundary between Östergötland and Småland, Sweden.[1][2] The complex is chiefly made up of peralkaline nepheline syenite and is rich in exotic minerals.[1] Rocks of the complex intruded into the Paleoproterozoic-aged Växjo granites of the Transscandinavian Igneous Belt.[1][2] Alfred Elis Törnebohm was the first to describe the rocks of Norra Kärr in 1906. Norra Kärr was discovered a few years earlier during regional geological maping by the Swedish Geological Survey. The complex derives its name from a local farm, which translates into English as "Northern Fen".[2] In 1968 Harry von Eckermann published his investigations on the complex defining its boundaries and confirming the view of it as an intrusion.[3]
A study has shown that the elevated rare-earth element concentrations in the bedrock in the Norra Kärr area are particularly well reflected in high contents of these elements in the fern Dryopteris filix-mas. This raises the possibility for the fern species to be used in biogeochemical prospecting.[4]
Norra Kärr is one of the two known sites where the mineral jinshajiangite can be found naturally, the other being in China.[5][6]
Mine project
 | |
 Interactive map of Norra Kärr mine | |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Jönköping County | |
| Country | Sweden |
| Production | |
| Products | Rare earth elements and Zirconium |
The Norra Kärr mine project represents one of the largest zirconium reserves in Sweden having estimated reserves of 58 million tonnes of ore grading 1.7% zirconium metal.[7]
Since 2009, the Canadian company Tasman Metals has owned the mining rights and explored for rare earth elements in the Norra Kärr area.[8][1]
In February 2016 the supreme administrative court of Sweden withdrew Tasman's exploitation concession for Norra Kärr.