The ore findings at Løkken Verk were originally about 30,000,000 tonnes (33,000,000 tons), and was the largest resource of copper sulfide in Norway.

Prior to 1845, the target was copper that was smelted, but in 1851 the mine transferred into mining pyrites that were exported, primarily as raw material for sulfuric acid.

From 1931 until 1962, sulfur and copper were produced at Orkla Metal in Thamshavn.

The history of the mining is preserved at Orkla Industrial Museum at Løkken Verk.

At the same time, the Thamshavnbanen railway was built between Løkken Verk and Thamshavn (just north of Orkanger) to transport the pyrites to the port.