Field Notes

I got a little note at the recent midsummers celebration in Pershyttan. “Inaguration of project moon-mining in Pershyttan“. I found the idea so charming that I had to share it.

The region of Bergslagen, where this moon-mine would be situated, is historically famous for its production of iron. There are recorded accounts of minerals being extracted from these sites as early as the 12:th century, but most of the visible remains today come from the very end of the  era, late 17th century.  We took a guided tour from one of the mines in the area, and the recorded history of the place is really fantastic.

Now of course the situation is different. We talked with the municipality of Nora some years ago, and it became pretty clear to us that they would be open for pretty much anything that would give the  region a boost. This is pure speculation of course, but it is this how a project this far-fetched could get the ok?

Fig 2: Idea plan

So here is what i gathered from project moon-mining so far.

• The project aims to establish a self-sustainable habitat in the mine, to simulate the enviroments of a habitat on the moon.
• The project has been given some kind of all-clear from the municipality. It seems that some kind of access to the actual mine has been granted.
• They do NOT yet have the permit to pump the water out of mine. I’m not sure why this is such a big deal, but we spoke to some people that diregarded the whole project as being “a fantasy” and hoped that the water would remain in the mine as it is now.
• Taking water from the mine in question Storgruvan, would also drain the adjacent Lockgruvan, interfering with Lockgruvans current touristic activities.
• The pumping of water is scheduled to begin july 20 2009.

So what do you think? Great entrepeneurial spirit or madman delusions? As a sci-fi nerd I love the project, but reading on the official web is not comforting. Some kind of focus on Hergés Tintins adventures on the moon? Extraction of ore from the mine “for domestic use”?

Yes its easy to disregard this one as a madman and a nutcase, but let the man with his own moon-base throw the first stone says I.

Here are some links

Swedish press about the project: http://www..ingenjoren.se/Sidor/6nov2008.aspx

Official page and source of images: http://www.moon-mine.com/