In 2009, the Nor­we­gi­an mining com­pa­ny Store Nor­ske car­ri­ed out first inves­ti­ga­ti­ons to find poten­ti­al gold occur­ren­ces in St. Jons­fjord, north of Isfjord. Results show that the poten­ti­al is signi­fi­cant. Store Nor­ske intends to do dril­lings to fur­ther deter­mi­ne the poten­ti­al of valuable metals. The aut­ho­ri­ties (Sys­sel­man­nen) have now given per­mis­si­on for the dril­lings under strict envi­ron­men­tal con­di­ti­ons.

St. Jons­fjord is out­side the pro­tec­ted are­as, which means that the future may see a new mine in Spits­ber­gen.

Quel­le: Sval­bard­pos­ten