I f an estimate is made of the position of Sweden as a producer of
energy, it will be found that the country possesses very considerable
sources of power, even i f a considerable direct export to other countries
cannot be considered possible. I f development advances on the same lines
as hitherto, part of the power required must be constantly purchased from
abroad; and therefore a quota must be defrayed out of that revenue which
other natural advantages are able to provide. The country, nevertheless,
is, as we have shown above, more favoured in this respect than a large
number of other countries.
Mineral wealth.
Ores. The mountainous regions of Sweden contain in no few places
larger or smaller deposits of ore. Of these, nevertheless, from the point
of view of present industrialism, only the iron ores are of any considerable
importance; but, in compensation, these belong to the greatest and most
productive in the world. They are concentrated in two comparatively
small districts: the one, known from ancient days, is in Bergslagen, in
Central Sweden, stretching from Varmland in the south-west to Uppland
in the east, embracing about 15 000 square kilometers, and containing
nearly a tenth part of the country’s supply of iron ore; and the new
mining district, that in northernmost Lappland, containing the remaining
nine-tenths. Outside of these tracts few ores are found, and they are
generally of less value.
An attempt has lately been made to arrive at an estimate of the supply
of the world’s iron ore. The result of this has been to establish the fact
that the definitely known resources amount to possibly 22 400 million tons,
containing in round figures about 10 000 million tons of iron. And yet,
to this must be added probably several times this quantity of other
deposits less well known. Meanwhile, at the present rate of consumption,
the supply just named (and it is obviously this we have most nearly
to reckon with) will be exhausted in about 170 years. It is on the basis
which these figures supply that the resources of Swedish iron ore must
be considered. Yet one other fact must be kept well in mind. The present
extraction of iron at an economic advantage in any notable degree, can
very seldom deal with ores containing a percentage of iron lower than
30 %. A yield of from 30—60 % is commonly reckoned as low,
while a yield of over 60 % is considered as high. Of the present available
supply of ore in Europe (about 12 000 millions of. tons yielding possibly
4 730 millions of tons of iron) not more than about a tenth part, or 1 200
millions of tons, consists of high-grade ore. Of this Sweden possesses
1100 million tons (92 %), and Russia the rest. The amount of high-grade
ore in Sweden is much greater than the figures quoted above indicate, if
the deeper-lying ore-deposits are taken into account. Thus, Kirunavara
ha§ 740 mill, tons down to 300 meters, but magnetic investigation
gives 1 370 mill, tons down to 1 500 meters. Since, then, a large
quantity of the iron extracted abroad is extracted from a mixture of high-
and low-grade ores, it is readily seen how great a value the extensive
iron ore deposits of the country possess. Whether, therefore, the ores are
refined at home or not, one of the most important and easiest realizable
resources of nature, for a country rather cramped for lack of capital as
Sweden is at present, lies in its iron ores.
The remaining ores, on the contrary, are to a large extent of less value
although some of them do not lack significance from a private economic
point of view. The mine at Falun represented one of the richest copper
deposits in the world, from which riches, considerable for Swedish conditions,
streamed for centuries; these have been computed by various investigators
at a value of 600—1 000 millions of kronor; it is now worked
out, like numerous minor deposits. The same thing has taken place with
the wealth of the mines which produced silver together with lead. The
case is somewhat better with the sinc-ore deposits, of which the largest,
Ammeberg, yields ore to the value of about 2 million kronor per annum.
What value the radium (from the Silurian shales previously mentioned)
may prove itself to possess is as yet impossible to decide. No discoveries
of precious metals worth mining have been made in Sweden.
The ancient ore-country of the North thus proves itself to be an iron-
country with some few very large fields of immense value, by no means
an Eldorado, but a country where courage, foresight, and capital can.
extract considerable wealth from the bowels of the mountains.
Stone and c la y . The ancient mountains of Sweden contain great quantities
of hard and beautiful stone, which, thanks to the fact that builders
of modern times have attained to greater power over their materials, can
be widely used in building operations where strength and durability go
before cheapness. Stone for the erection of monuments of various kinds,
as well as for the paving of streets, etc., is today transported round the
globe, if only the claims as to solidarity and taste can be satisfied. Yet
there are few countries that can rival Sweden’s granites in satisfying
different tastes, and none surely are more favourably situated with
respect to the facilities of export direct from harbour. The supply
is sufficient not alone for the country itself, but also for the rest of
the world for an infinite, future. Sweden, therefore, has an undeniable
natural advantage over the majority of her rivals in the markets, a fact
which has been proved by developments.
In 1844 were founded the first granite quarries at Malmon near Lyse-
kil. Hardly seventy years have elapsed since then: now in numerous
spots in Bohnslan and Blekinge, and on the coast of the Ian of Kalmar, and
m the interior of Gotaland, granite and similar kinds of stone are being
quarried. In 1912, the exports from these places amounted in value to
13-5 millions of kronor.