a LONG HISTORY
Ever since early Maori crossed Kā Tiritiri o te Moana and discovered pouanamu, the West Coast has been known for its mineral wealth. By the late 14th century pounamu was being transported and traded around the North and South Island and in its day was the most prized mineral in all Aotearoa.
With the arrival of prospectors from Australia, Europe, and China, gold and coal joined greenstone as major contributors to the region’s mining sector and overall economy. In the 1860s gold was discovered throughout the southern half of the region, with alluvial deposits found from the Grey River and south down to Gillespie’s Beach in glacier country. Later discoveries led to mining further north in the Grey and Buller Districts.
The 1860s also mark the beginnings of West Coast coal mining. Bituminous coal, used as coking coal for steel production, is found nowhere in New Zealand but the West Coast. Most coalfields are in the north of the region, near the towns of Greymouth, Reefton, and Westport.
With the arrival of prospectors from Australia, Europe, and China, gold and coal joined greenstone as major contributors to the region’s mining sector and overall economy. In the 1860s gold was discovered throughout the southern half of the region, with alluvial deposits found from the Grey River and south down to Gillespie’s Beach in glacier country. Later discoveries led to mining further north in the Grey and Buller Districts.
The 1860s also mark the beginnings of West Coast coal mining. Bituminous coal, used as coking coal for steel production, is found nowhere in New Zealand but the West Coast. Most coalfields are in the north of the region, near the towns of Greymouth, Reefton, and Westport.
Pounamu
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Gold
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Coal
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MODERN TIMES
Pounamu continues to be prized by Maori in particular and New Zealanders in general, also attracting a great deal of interest from international tourists. Greenstone is now often sourced by gold miners while removing overburden and working through tailings. With regard to coal, the West Coast's product is regarded as the “caviar of coals”, and the region's coking coal is sought after worldwide for steel production. The top three destinations for West Coast coking coal are now India, Japan, and Australia. Oceana Gold’s Globe Progress mine near Reefton finished mining in 2015, and finished processing in 2016. It now leads the industry in restoration, and serves as an example of how mining on conservation land can be done responsibly. At present, gold production on the Coast is carried out by small to middle sized operators. Gold prices are high, and there's no shortage of opportunity.
FutURE PROSPECTS
With high demand for steel, coking coal will continue to be in demand internationally. In the midterm thermal coal will continue play a role in warming New Zealand’s schools and hospitals, keeping the lights on, and underpinning the competitiveness of our food producers against food imports and on the export market for dairy, meat, fish, and fresh produce.
Gold has been a prized resource for thousands of years. Historically used as currency and in jewelry, it is now also used for dentistry, conduction, electronics, medicine, and aeronautics. As the world faces climate change and countries transition to low carbon energy, demand for fossil fuels will drop and the need for other minerals will skyrocket.
A low carbon economy needs wind turbines, solar panels, batteries, and electric cars. Many minerals will be needed. Of those, rare earths, copper, nickel, lead, lithium, and zinc have been identified by GNS Science as being found on the West Coast. Whether payable quantities can be extracted will depend on market conditions and technology at the time.
Mining's history in the region is due to pioneering, adaptation, and innovation, and that will certainly be the case in the future.
Gold has been a prized resource for thousands of years. Historically used as currency and in jewelry, it is now also used for dentistry, conduction, electronics, medicine, and aeronautics. As the world faces climate change and countries transition to low carbon energy, demand for fossil fuels will drop and the need for other minerals will skyrocket.
A low carbon economy needs wind turbines, solar panels, batteries, and electric cars. Many minerals will be needed. Of those, rare earths, copper, nickel, lead, lithium, and zinc have been identified by GNS Science as being found on the West Coast. Whether payable quantities can be extracted will depend on market conditions and technology at the time.
Mining's history in the region is due to pioneering, adaptation, and innovation, and that will certainly be the case in the future.
contact us
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Minerals West Coast Trust
Manager: Patrick Phelps Phone: 021 238 6846 Email: manager@mwc.org.nz |
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