Sokndal

3282 ( March 31, 2013 )

Sokndal is a commune in the south of Norway Rogaland. The geographical area in which the municipality is located, is called Dalane. The administrative center of the municipality is located in Hauge i Dalane.

Sogndalstrand is a picturesque old fishing village, which is perhaps justified that Sokndal the first Norwegian municipality, was the member of Cittaslow was founded in Italy in 1999 a movement to decelerate and increase the quality of life in cities.

Mining

In Hauge i Dalane Titania A / S operates since 1960 the mine Titania. The pit built the Tellnes deposit, the most important iron -titanium deposit in Europe. The stored reserves of the mineral ilmenite here in 2005 amounted to 37 million tonnes ( 7% of world reserves ). The production in 2005 amounted to 860,000 tonnes of ilmenite concentrate with an average grade of 44.5 % TiO2. This corresponded to 14% of world production. Funded ilmenite is primarily used in paints, plastics, paper and cosmetics industries.

In addition to ilmenite were in the pit Tellness so far (as of 2011) 24 other minerals and varieties are detected such as zirconium oxide baddeleyite, the iron oxide magnetite, nickel sulfide, millerite, the zinc sulfide sphalerite and iron sulfides chalcopyrite, pyrite and pyrrhotite.