Promoted by the existence of economic sulphide deposits, much interest through the years has been focused on the geology of the Skellefte field and consequently several hypotheses on the geological evolution of the area have been proposed. This paper summarizes results gained through the work of the Geological Survey of Sweden in the area during the last decade. The importance of the depositional environment for volcanics and sediments is stressed, the latter having been laid down at or close to the boundary between a continental domain to the north and a marine domain to the south. Certain arguments for a plate tectonic interpretation of the observed conditions are presented.