Nepheline Syenite: "The granite worth its weight in gold!"

Nepheline Syenite, deceptively like granite, would turn out to be highly valuable with demand for its special qualities in the glass and porcelain industries.

Nepheline Syenite.
Nepheline Syenite. Photo: Anne Klippenvåg Pettersen/Alta museum

Norsk Nefelin was established on Stjernøya in 1961 as a subsidiary company of Christiania Spigerverk.

It was a daring project to start up the nepheline mines in the 60s, but since the beginning the company has just grown and grown and is now on a steady course with good profit margins as a branch of Sibelco Nordic.

The company represents an important workplace in both Alta and Loppa municipality, and will be presented in our new, and up and coming, permanent exhibitions at Alta Museum.