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About the Cobalt Works and Mines

The Royal Cobalt Works of Modum were established in 1776 for the purpose of mining cobalt from the mines in Modum. The cobalt was used in the production of cobalt blue pigment for the worldwide porcelain and glass industry.

The Cobalt Works and Mines is currently an 8 km long museum offering a mixture of art, culture and nature which provides tranquillity, recreation and experiences for every generation, with:

• three new art exhibitions every year
• six exciting museum shops with specialities
• three atmospheric eateries where we serve home-made food
• a children’s farm
• children’s mine tours
• guided mine tours in the mining complex dating back to the 19th century
• walking areas beside huge open-cast mines with stunning viewpoints
• mine museums showing the development of mining technology
• the Eiker Gårdsysteri cheese store inside the mines

In 2017, the Cobalt Works and Mines received more than 150,000 visitors between them. That makes us one of the most visited tourist attractions in Norway.

1772

The largest iron ore discovery

A discovery is made by Ole Witloch, a mine worker who was fired and banished from Kongsberg.
1773

Trial blasting starts

Trial blasting is carried out on Skuterud farm, while the chemist Peter Hofnagel investigates whether cobalt would be profitable.
1776

Blaafarveværket is established by royal decree

In April of this year, the Royal Cobalt Works of Modum are established by King Christian VII.
1783

New pigment inspector, Georg Christopher Bernstein

Industrial spy, Ole Henckel, manages to recruit Bernstein, who finally gets Blaafarveværket back on its feet after several years of having incompetent leaders.
1813

Blaafarveværket is pledged as security by King Fredrik VI

After the greatest economic disaster in Danish history, the Danish state bankruptcy, King Fredrik VI is forced to pledge Blaafarveværket as security for a loan of 250,000 marks to the Hamburger banco from the Swedish merchant Peter Wilhelm Berg.
1814

The newly-established Norwegian state takes over Blaafarveværket

The new Norwegian state is in desperate need of money at this time and takes control of the production and sale of blue pigment.
1819

Berg regains rights

The pledgee, Peter Berg, wins the support of the Supreme Court and regains his rights to Blaafarveværket. Berg promptly goes bankrupt in 1816 and his estate is given the right to sell the works by decision of the Supreme Court.
1822

Blaafarveværket sold at auction

Blaafarveværket is sold at auction to the German financier, Wilhelm Christian Benecke. Benecke purchases the works for 50,000 Norwegian rigsdaler and makes plans to develop the operations.
1824

Friedrich Roscher is hired as works manager

Roscher is the architect behind the Director’s Residence at Nyfossum. He later takes on the role of technical director of Blaafarveværket.
1827

New mining director

Karl Friedrich Böbert is hired as mining director of the Cobalt Mines. Böbert is an important figure in the history of Blaafarveværket. Under his leadership, there are tremendous improvements that made the extraction of iron ore from the Cobalt Mines seven times as efficient in a matter of years.
1835-1840

Largest in the world

Blaafarveværket is the largest mine in Norway and the largest producer of cobalt in the world. 1205 employees work in the Cobalt Mines and the works produce 80% of all cobalt pigment on the global market.
1839

First recorded Norwegian mine railway

The railway is installed in the Beneckestollen drift.
1849

Blaafarveværket is put up for sale

The synthetic, pigmented ultramarine outsells the far more expensive cobalt pigment.
1849

Blaafarveværket is sold

Blaafarveværket is sold to the English firm, Goodhall & Reeves. Blaafarveværket’s largest customer buys the works for 80,000 Norwegian rigsdaler with the hope that new product development would lead to future profit.
1854

Mining accident

The greatest mining accident in the history of Blaafarveværket occurs. Five lose their lives and two are severely injured.
1855

Blaafarveværket sold again

Blaafarveværket is sold to the Sachsischer Blaufarbenwerkverein—the poor quality of ultramarine leads to greater demand for cobalt pigment. The Saxons buy up all of the mines in Europe in order to create a monopoly on the cobalt industry.
1858

Work on the Ludvig Eugen Stoll drift commences

Work on Blaafarveværket’s longest drift, the Ludvig Eugen Stoll drift commences—the drift is finished in 1869 at 400 metres longs. An extension of around 400 metres is added on to the drift in the 1870s.
1869

The color works are shut down

All cobalt ore is crushed and sent to Germany to be refined.
1872

Cableway

The first cableway in Norway was built at the Cobalt Mines.
1875

Compressed air

Blaafarveværket is the first mine in Norway to use boring machines—they run on compressed air.
1898

Shut-down

Blaafarveværket is shut down—after several years in the red, the Saxons have to give up; all operations conclude by the end of the year.

About the Cobalt Works and Mines

1772

The largest iron ore discovery

1773

Trial blasting starts

1776

Blaafarveværket is established by royal decree

1783

New pigment inspector, Georg Christopher Bernstein

1813

Blaafarveværket is pledged as security by King Fredrik VI

1814

The newly-established Norwegian state takes over Blaafarveværket

1819

Berg regains rights

1822

Blaafarveværket sold at auction

1824

Friedrich Roscher is hired as works manager

1827

New mining director

1835-1840

Largest in the world

1839

First recorded Norwegian mine railway

1849

Blaafarveværket is put up for sale

1849

Blaafarveværket is sold

1854

Mining accident

1855

Blaafarveværket sold again

1858

Work on the Ludvig Eugen Stoll drift commences

1869

The color works are shut down

1872

Cableway

1875

Compressed air

1898

Shut-down