LKAB has known for a long time that there are rare earth metals in Kiruna. The slag, i.e. what has already been mined in the existing mine, contains low levels. It could be possible to take advantage of it, but it is a more complicated process than taking up new ore.
In the area under investigation there are both iron, phosphorus and rare earth metals.
The area that has been investigated so far is estimated to be able to yield approximately one million tons of the oxides that contain the earth metals.
There are abundant amounts of phosphorus and, according to LKAB, the content is seven times greater than in other ore bodies. Today, phosphorus, which is included in mineral fertilizers among other things, is mostly mined in Russia.
Source: LKAB