The Enåsen gold deposit is located in Gävleborg county in central Sweden. Mining operations at Enåsen took place from 1984 to 1991 with Au as the main target for exploitation. The deposit has been interpreted as a metamorphosed Palaeoproterozoic analogue to near-recent epithermal Au mineralisations of a high sulphidation type. Its present mineralogy, textural-structural features, and morphology have been suggested to be the result of a combination of later deformation and regional Svecokarelian metamorphism at upper amphibolite to granulite facies conditions of the original epithermal deposit and it’s hydrothermally altered host rock. The main ore body now consists of a mineralised sillimanite quartzite gneiss. The aim of the project was to characterise the ore mineralogy, petrography and its paragenesis, evaluate the potential of Enåsen in terms of critical metals, and to test a hypothesis of partial ore melting.Among the most frequent ore minerals in the deposit are pyrite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, bornite and tetrahedrite-tennantite, with variable but less abundant sulphides including covellite, digenite, mawsonite, stannite, arsenopyrite, cobaltite, galena, marcasite, sphalerite and pentlandite. Additionally, native gold, Se-bearing tellurobismuthite, hessite, tsumoite, pilsenite, rickardite, vulcanite, altaite, molybdenite, frohbergite, montbrayite, tellurantimony, löllingite and tellurbismuthantimony. While not an ore mineral here, rutile occurs abundantly. The ore mineral assemblages have seemingly at least partially melted. This is evidenced by failed quenching textures in the form of abundant multi-scale symplectites, potential sharp dihedral angles, localised concentrations of low melting point chalcophile elements (LMCE) + Au and Ag and arrays of multiphase sulphide/sulphosalt ± gold inclusions, as well as available mineral stability data considering that the ore assemblages have been subjected to upper amphibolite/granulite facies conditions followed by ductile and brittle deformation stages. Some ore mineral relationships have been described. Further studies would be required for a full paragenesis. The potential of Enåsen type deposits in terms of critical or near critical metals and semi-metals is likely to be as biproduct extraction in a mining operation aimed at gold. The most relevant element is likely to be bismuth, followed by tellurium and antimony.

The escalating demand for metals driven by advancements in renewable energy technologies and hightech products has underscored the significance of understanding and characterizing ore deposits. This study focuses on the Ertelien Ni-Cu deposit in Norway, a region rich in nickel, cobalt, and copper resources—essential components for the transition to a sustainable energy future. The deposit, located within the Kongsberg belt, holds substantial economic potential due to its Ni-Cu-Co sulfide mineral enrichment. Previous assay results from drill cores, optical microscopy, and electron probe micro-analysis were employed to characterize the mineralogy and based on this interpreter the formation mechanisms, and enrichment processes that formed the deposit.  The Ertelien deposit represents an igneous origin with significant Ni-Cu-Co content estimated at 2.7 million metric tons, with grades of 0.83%, 0.69%, and 0.06%, respectively, within a gabbronorite intrusive body. Optical microscopy and electron probe micro-analysis revealed a complex mineral assemblage including common silicates such as plagioclase, pyroxene, amphibole, mica, olivine, and others, as well as sulfides such as pyrite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, pentlandite.  The primary objective of this study is to conduct an in-depth examination of the geological, mineralogical, and enrichment aspects of the Ertelien deposit. Specifically, primary magmatic and assimilation processes involved in the formation of Ni-Cu-deposits were be evaluated, as well as any potential metal redistribution resulting from secondary processes. Mineralogical studies, facilitated by combining optical microscopy and electron microprobe analysis provided important information on the mechanisms contributing to metal enrichment in or deposits. Optical microscopy and electron probe microanalysis revealed a complex mineral assemblage including common silicates such as plagioclase, pyroxene, amphibole, mica, olivine, and others, as well as sulfides such as pyrite, chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite, pentlandite.  The analyzed rock suite spans a range of compositions from gabbroic to tonalite, with MgO concentrations varying from 0.38 to 22.96 wt.%. Overall, there is a discernible trend of sulfur enrichment in or near samples characterized by low MgO and high Na2O and CaO contents, suggesting that sulfide saturation is likely associated with the assimilation of S-bearing gneisses into which the Ertelien gabbronorites intruded. Ni concentrations exhibit an increasing trend with depth. The nickel-to-cobalt ratio (Ni/Co) displays a discernible pattern that correlates with sulfide crystallization during the process of magmatic fractionation. Notable distinctions observed among groups characterized by differing Ni/Co contents in chalcopyrite, pentlandite, pyrrhotite, and pyrite reveal distinct trends in Ni concentrations. In conjunction with the presence of sphalerite and Ag-pentlandite, which are indicative of lower temperature origin compared to magmatic activity, all these observations provide compelling indications of diverse potential sources, including variations in magma compositions and the influence of hydrothermal processes.  Investigating ore formation conditions enhances the mining sector's ability to identify high-potential mineralization areas, vital for ensuring a stable supply of metals essential for renewable energy systems, electric vehicles, and advanced electronics. / Den eskalerande efterfrågan på metaller som drivs av framsteg inom förnybar energiteknik och högteknologiska produkter har understrukit betydelsen av att förstå och karakterisera malmfyndigheter. Denna studie fokuserar på Ertelien Ni-Cu-fyndigheten i Norge, en region rik på nickel-, kobolt- och kopparresurser – väsentliga komponenter för övergången till en hållbar energiframtid. Fyndigheten, som ligger inom Kongsbergsbältet, har en betydande ekonomisk potential på grund av dess Ni-Cu-Cosulfidmineralanrikning. Tidigare analysresultat från borrkärnor, optisk mikroskopi och elektronsondsmikroanalys användes för att karakterisera mineralogin och baserat på denna tolk för bildningsmekanismerna och anrikningsprocesserna som bildade fyndigheten.  Ertelien-avlagringen representerar ett magmatiskt ursprung med betydande Ni-Cu-Co-innehåll uppskattat till 2.7 miljoner ton, med halter på 0.83%, 0.69% respektive 0.06% inom en gabbronorit-intrusiv kropp. Optisk mikroskopi och elektronsondsmikroanalys avslöjade en komplex mineralsammansättning inklusive vanliga silikater som plagioklas, pyroxen, amfibol, glimmer, olivin och andra, såväl som sulfider som pyrit, kolopirit, pyrrotit, pentlandit.  Det primära syftet med denna studie är att genomföra en djupgående undersökning av de geologiska, mineralogiska och anrikningsaspekterna av Ertelienfyndigheten. Specifikt utvärderades primära magmatiska och assimileringsprocesser involverade i bildandet av Ni-Cu-avlagringar, såväl som eventuell metallomfördelning till följd av sekundära processer. Mineralogiska studier, underlättade genom att kombinera optisk mikroskopi och elektronmikrosondanalys gav viktig information om de mekanismer som bidrar till metallanrikning i eller avlagringar. Optisk mikroskopi och elektronsondsmikroanalys avslöjade en komplex mineralsammansättning inklusive vanliga silikater som plagioklas, pyroxen, amfibol, glimmer, olivin och andra, såväl som sulfider som pyrit, kolopirit, pyrrotit, pentlandit.  Den analyserade bergsviten sträcker sig över en rad kompositioner från gabbroic till tonalit, med MgOkoncentrationer som varierar från 0.38 till 22.96 viktprocent. Sammantaget finns det en urskiljbar trend av svavelanrikning i eller nära prover som kännetecknas av lågt MgO och högt Na2O- och CaO-innehåll, vilket tyder på att sulfidmättnad sannolikt är associerad med assimileringen av S-bärande gnejser i vilka Ertelien-gabbronoriterna inträngde. Ni-koncentrationer uppvisar en ökande trend med djupet. Förhållandet nickel till kobolt (Ni/Co) visar ett urskiljbart mönster som korrelerar med sulfidkristallisation under processen för magmatisk fraktionering. Anmärkningsvärda skillnader som observerats bland grupper som kännetecknas av olika Ni/Co-halter i karbonat, pentlandit, pyrrotit och pyrit avslöjar distinkta trender i Nikoncentrationer. I samband med närvaron av sfalerit och Ag-pentlandit, som indikerar lägre temperaturursprung jämfört med magmatisk aktivitet, ger alla dessa observationer övertygande indikationer på olika potentiella källor, inklusive variationer i magmasammansättningar och påverkan av hydrotermiska processer.  Att undersöka malmbildningsförhållanden förbättrar gruvsektorns förmåga att identifiera mineraliseringsområden med hög potential, avgörande för att säkerställa en stabil tillgång på metaller som är nödvändiga för förnybara energisystem, elfordon och avancerad elektronik.