Rällingsberg mining area
Rällingsberg mining area is an area with four defunct iron mines outside the community of Långshyttan in the parish of Husby in Hedemora Municipality, Dalarna County, Sweden. The former mining area now forms part of the Husbyringen nature and culture trail.
History
The mining field was discovered in 1841 by farmworker, Clas Westerholm. With a borrowed mining compass he found a widespread magnetic field east of Lake Rällingen near a piece of farmland called Gruvvreten. He got his claim registered January 30, 1841 and became half-owner of the prospect together with the owner of Kloster's Mill.In June the same year a contract was made on mining in what was to become Rällingsbergsgruvan. After six years Westerholm was bought out of the mine for 8 000 kronor, but about 35 years later a second payment was made of the sum 5 000 kronor, since he had spent all his money and was rendered poor.
In 1871 the owners of the ironworks started the stock company Klosters AB and in 1892 Rällingsbergs gruvaktiebolag was formed as a daughter company. Klosters AB established a narrow-track railway in 1891 for its cargo between the use at Långshyttan and Stjernsund.
The ore in the mine had a high quantity of manganese and was suitable for bessemer iron that was produced in the new blast furnace at Klosterverken in Långshyttan from 1861. To have access to its own ore reduced the cost of the company at Kloster considerably, partly compensating for the lack of own charcoal.
Rällingsberg mine received electric power from 1918. The mines were run until 1932.