Finnish Lapland is underlain by some of Europe’s oldest rocks and abundant mafic-ultramafic rocks hosting magmatic ore deposits of PGE, Ni, Cu, Cr and V. In association with IPS 2023, a field workshop to Lapland will take place between 8th and 13th July 2023. During this trip we will visit the Kevitsa Ni-Cu-(PGE) mine, the Sakatti Ni-Cu-(PGE) exploration project, the Suhanko PGE-(Ni-Cu) project, and the Otanmäki V project (and former mine). There will be 4 full days in the field.

Participants will be responsible for travelling to Oulu/Finland from Cardiff (and return, if appropriate) themselves. There are frequent buses from Cardiff to Heathrow (served by Finnair, BA) or Gatwick (Norwegian Air), via National Express Bus, Megabus.UK (both of which have direct services to Heathrow and Gatwick), or Great Western railways which serves Paddington station from where the Heathrow Express metro service to Heathrow exists). Accommodation in hotels or self-catering cottages will be provided.

The 4 days of field excursions will involve short hikes in the project areas/mines. The weather in Lapland in summer can be quite warm (up to 25C, but more variable than in central Europe, and temperature below 10C are also possible). All participants should be prepared with field boots and wet/cold weather clothes, as well as for warm sunny weather.

Numbers on the trip will be capped at 30. The trip will be led by Wolfgang Maier (Cardiff University). Costs for bus travel and accommodation in Lapland (and incl. field guide) will be on the order of £200-300. Participants will be responsible for their own costs of travel to Oulu (return flights from London to Oulu start from ~250£, if booking is well in advance) and subsistence. A much more detailed circular with guidance and information will follow in due course.