Nasa Silver Mine

The Nasa (Nasafjäll) silver mine (Swedish: Nasa silvergruva), located on Nasa Mountain on the border between Sweden and Norway, was used for mining silver, mainly from 1635 to 1659 and from 1770 to 1810. Smelting occurred during the first period (1635-1659) at Skellefteälven; during the second period (1770-1810) at Adolfström in Arjeplog .

It was an indigenous Sami man by the name of Peder Olofsson who had made the first discovery of ore. The mine never delivered much silver: about 860 kg, plus 250 tons of lead. It was historically important, as it contributed to the development of infrastructure in this part of Lappland, most notably the Nasa trail and the city of Arjeplog. It marked the beginning of Sweden's efforts to become a major power. Many men were conscripted to work the mines, and were noted to have been worked hard and brutishly, along with receiving little or none of their wages of flour, salt, tobacco and liquor. It was found that the foreman Isak Tiock had been keeping most of the wages for himself as well as cruelly treating those who would not work. Afterwards a royal commission imprisoned him and had all debts paid.