Ilomant­si’s Gold Story Capti­va­ted Visitors at Pampa­lo Open House

Pampalo’s traditional Open House Day attracted over 150 guests, who had the opportunity to discover various stages of gold production, from exploration and mining to mineral processing.

Rock Tells the Story of Gold

One of the most popular attractions of the day was the exploration display, where visitors were introduced to drill cores, cylindrical rock samples extracted from deep underground, as well as the characteristic rock types found in the region. Geologists had brought a variety of rocks and mineral specimens on display, including quartz-tourmaline, soapstone, pyrite, and the distinctive banded iron formation from the Ukko deposit.

Many visitors were surprised to learn that the greenstone belt running through the municipality of Ilomantsi contains a remarkably diverse geological treasure trove. The structures and minerals found in rocks provide geologists with clues about where gold-bearing zones may occur. Visitors examined samples with magnifying glasses while geologists explained how different minerals can be identified and what they reveal about the search for gold.

Everyday Life Nearly One Kilometre Underground

At the mining display, visitors gained insight into the structure of an underground mine. Illustrations helped demonstrate how mining progresses deep underground and how gold-bearing zones are followed and developed. At Pampalo, mining operations now extend to depths approaching one kilometre below the surface. The ore is transported to the surface through a tunnel system approximately seven kilometres long.

Once brought to daylight, the gold-bearing ore is stockpiled before large blocks weighing several tonnes are fed into the powerful crushers at the processing plant.

Outside, one of the main attractions was a mining drill rig whose enormous size impressed visitors of all ages. The massive equipment provided a tangible reminder that breaking hard rock requires much more than an ordinary drill.

Golden Foam Bubbling at the Processing Plant

The traditional processing plant tour was once again part of the programme. Visitors were able to follow the various stages of gold production in practice. Crushed rock moves through several processing stages, while golden-coloured flotation foam bubbles in the tanks, eventually producing gold concentrate.

Many visitors were surprised to discover that the final product of a gold mine does not glitter. Instead, gold concentrate resembles a modest pile of earth far more than a shiny precious metal.

A Taste of Gold Panning

Visitors also had the opportunity to try gold panning, although without water this time. Everyone was invited to pick a “gold nugget” as a souvenir. At the same time, they learned an old prospector’s lesson: not everything that glitters is gold.

The nuggets found in the pans were actually fool’s gold, but they nevertheless generated plenty of excitement, particularly among the youngest visitors.

Open Day once again offered a unique opportunity to step inside the world of Finnish gold production, ask questions directly from experts, and see firsthand how a valuable natural resource makes its journey from bedrock to a finished product.

We would like to thank all visitors for their interest, thoughtful questions, and enjoyable conversations. It was a pleasure to showcase Pampalo’s operations and share a piece of Ilomantsi’s rich gold story.

See you again next year!

Fact Box

• The average gold grade of the ore at Pampalo is approximately 2–3 g/t. The gold concentrate contains approximately 100 g/t gold. 
• The concentrate is transported to Boliden AB’s smelter in Harjavalta, Finland, for further processing.
• In 2025, Endomines produced 16,630 ounces of gold, equivalent to 517.2 kg. During January–June 2026, the Company produced 9,692 ounces of gold, equivalent to 301.5 kg.
• Endomines reported revenue of EUR 45.5 million in 2025 and EUR 34.7 million in January–June 2026.