Niklas Järvstråt, Associate professor in Technical Mechanics, Researcher in production processes (www.ptc.hv.se)
Marianne Rugård Järvstråt, Ph.D. in Business Performance Management, publisher (www.bombadilpublishing.com)

The primary motivation behind the purchase of Storgruvan is to build research and demonstration facilities showing that a moon base can be made materially self-sufficient – to connect the “entire” supply chain from mine to table in one and the same place. However, the mine is not only necessary for providing the production system with raw materials, but also for using as realistic an environment as possible, so demonstrating that an underground base on the moon can be made a very pleasant place in which to live. Locating such a future-oriented idea in an historic environment like Pershyttan may seem strange, but the contrast between the historic buildings and space age technology is both fascinating and has the ability to “sell”, and may also serve to illustrate that “high tech” is not always the best solution. By this we mean that old craftsmanship often uses resources in a very effective manner and with considerably fewer demands on equipment than modern high-volume industries. Accordingly, we intend to preserve and renovate its exterior, as well as to repair, modernise and develop the interior into a modern research centre, as part of a nationally and internationally established research network.

Above-ground buildings
The most important buildings are, naturally, the pithead building (333) and the ore dressing plant (332), but the engine house (334) is also of great interest in terms of industrial history, especially as the engines and hoist cables are present.

Engine house (334), pithead building (333) and entrance to the shaft (S): preserved, hoist taken into operation. (Preferably with original lift cages, if these remain. Are they at the bottom of the shaft?). Part of the engine house could be used as an office or similar. The magnificent pithead building is a landmark in the surrounding landscape and there are fantastic views from the tower. We want to restore its original function of supporting the lines to the hoist. Eventually it could become a museum, exhibition centre and/or a small café at the top. The engine house is in relatively good condition and no immediate action seems necessary, but one of the pithead building’s walls is missing a number of planks. The roof of the conveyor is also in very bad condition and has partly collapsed. There is a wooden cover on the shaft (S), which is in a fairly poor condition. Descent can be arranged, possibly with a smaller building as a staircase or “boarding station” for the mine lift.

Ore dressing plant (332): External appearance preserved, partly or fully insulated and converted to office space and/or housing. With a little clearance the lower area can be used as an auditorium, concert hall or lecture hall. The roof is partly rotted and many planks need to be replaced. 

Electrical workshop/change house building (331): Smallish building in fairly good condition, built in 1920. Initially used as heated shelter/office. 

Transformer building (330): Good exterior condition, interior unknown. Can possibly be renovated and rented out as housing or office space.

Underground- the Moon Mine
We want to create research and demonstration facilities for “self-sufficient production”. The primary aim is to link the chain of processes, demonstrating “typical” parts of the chain to begin with. 

Examples of research that can be carried out in the mine: 

• "Outdoor design"of galleries to provide a feeling of space, openings and the natural world.
• Transfer of sunlight in fibreglass, for cultivation.
• Cultivation in fibre-transferred daylight and/or fluorescent light.
• Low volume production of metal objects (metal construction with welding)
• Housing design
• Mining and dressing with minimal equipment

Benefits of the facility:

• Testing of technology and technological systems for a moon colony, small moon base, Mars base (supports NASA’s plans for a moon base in 2020)
• Support for developing countries – establishing a production system, rather than supplying products. (“Teach fishing instead of giving fish”)
• An infrastructure model for isolated settlements and bases (polar areas, deserts, islands)
• A holistic perspective on resource use in industrial production

National and international partnerships:

• Project work in design at Lund’s Faculty of Engineering and Chalmers’ project course “STAR design” in collaboration with NASA Houston.
• “Motell Mullvad” (Mole Motel) in association with Mikael Genberg, a Västerås artist known for his “Hotell Hackspett” (Woodpecker Hotel) in a tree in Västerås city park.
•  Cooperation with current research activities within the Moon-ISRU network (ISRU = In-Situ Resource Utilization, see www.moon-isru.com)

Fig 2: Idea plan

Immediate plans

• Carry out urgent maintenance of buildings to stop them becoming more dilapidated
• Pump out the water (perhaps the mine’s flat rods can eventually be connected to authentic pump stocks to draw out running water?)
• Utilise the hoist or build a stairwell down to the 110-metre level, or possibly a higher level that is large enough
• Equip workplaces in the mine, install electricity, lighting, internet 
• Investigate opportunities for financing renovation and research
• Carry out demonstration projects with increasing complexity and interaction

Swedish version

Fig. 1: Buildings

Engine house (334) and pithead building (333)

Ore dressing plant (332)