Finnish Gold Draws Interest – Nearly 200 Visitors at the Open House
Pampalo Mine hosted its annual Open House Day on Friday, August 15. Throughout the day, visitors had the opportunity to dive beneath the surface and explore the everyday life of gold production.
The Finnish Gold Mine Draws Interest Every Year – This Year We Broke Our Visitor Record
The Finnish gold mine attracts interest annually, but this year we experienced a record-breaking turnout during our open house: throughout the day, buses brought nearly 200 visitors through our gates – people curious about gold production, from near and far.
A Glimpse into Golden Everyday Life
At the information points set up around the mining area, visitors marveled at the size and depth of the mine. Many wondered what it’s like to work nearly a kilometer underground. It was a pleasure to share how daily life unfolds in the mine, how gold is discovered, how we care for the environment and local waterways, and how we ensure every employee returns safely from the depths to the surface at the end of the day.
And of course, everyone was fascinated by the gold! Guests were amazed by drill cores shimmering with tiny gold specks in the sunlight – many were surprised to learn that gold occurs in rock as microscopic particles. At the exploration station, visitors also got to examine tungsten – classified by the EU as a critical mineral – under a UV lamp.
Processing Tour Revealed the Gold Production Process
The open house has traditionally included a tour of the processing plant. Visitors followed the journey of rock extracted from the mine as it was crushed, foamed in tanks, and transformed into gold concentrate – a modest-looking but highly valuable material. Many said the gold production process became much clearer after seeing it in action.
Our tough daily work was also showcased by a drilling and bolting machine brought to the yard area, which drew many curious onlookers with its powerful drills. The sheer size of the machine made an impression – you certainly can’t break rock with a tiny drill.
Coffee, Pastries, and Conversations
The day was filled with questions, discussions, and genuine interest. Thank you to everyone who stopped by to chat, ask questions, and listen – and simply came to visit us! This was a golden opportunity for us to share our work and hear your thoughts and suggestions – each one will be considered in more detail.
