Resources: Minerals and the Ironsands


New Zealand is a country rich in various natural resources, ranging from gold, silver, iron ore, coal, limestone to natural gas. Several other metallic minerals occur in New Zealand however are not currently produced, including copper, nickel, titanium and zinc. However, these would only be if it is economically feasible for the country.
The area surrounding Auckland is specifically rich in clay, pumice, diatomite and coal, with nearby ironsands to the west – the country’s richest and largest reserves of ironsand. This black rocksand formed 2.5 million years ago from rock deposited on the coast by volcanic activity in the Taranaki region. Over time, this heavy, dark ironsand was transported by ocean currents along the west coast of the North Island and deposited on beaches.

Ironsand contains the following minerals (??): magnetite, titanium oxide and vanadium oxide. These components can be used in the production of steel, producing titanium which is then used in high-tech applications (IE: aviation, defence, medical equipment) and various construction materials. The production of these materials can negatively impact the environment – emissions impacting air and sound quality, large water and energy usage, wastewater pollutants and waste (steel aggregate). Many of the mining facilities in New Zealand have adopted Environmental Management Systems aimed at minimizing the environmental effects of their operations, with monitoring and recycling methods in place.

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  1. UnknownMarch 28, 2019 at 3:56 PM

    http://unitaryplan.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/Images/Printable%20PDFs%20-%20September/Part%202%20-%20Obs%20and%20pols/Chapter%20C/5%20Natural%20resources.pdf

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