Already six months ago, the company applied for permission to carry out test drilling in the area around Nautanen, which is just over one and a half miles from Gällivare.
- In general, we look at the area that is adjacent to the already established business, partly because there is an infrastructure in place but also because we know the geology, says Klas Nilsson, communications manager for Boliden.
Need to learn more about the bedrock
According to Klas Nilsson, it is a long and solid process and the company needs to learn more about the bedrock before they can decide whether it is worth investing in a mine at Nautanen in the future.
Society flourished when the mine was up and running
Nautanen was founded in 1898 in connection with the area becoming relevant for copper mining.
In 1902, mining of copper began in the area and when the mine was at its largest, mining took place at five different mines.
After seven years of work, the company that then operated the mine went bankrupt.
When the mine's production stopped, the more than 400 people who settled in the community also abandoned.
A society that then had housing, a school, a shop and a people's house.