Overview

Industry snapshot

Introduction

The value of the New Zealand mining industry (excluding petroleum) is $1.505 billion. The mining industry contributes to several sectors of the economy such as construction (aggregates and limestone for cement), energy (coal), transport (road aggregates), primary industry (coal and ironsand), agriculture (fertiliser) and manufacturing (industrial minerals).

 

Metallic minerals

The most important metallic minerals produced are gold (10.62 tonnes), silver (27.2 tonnes) and titanomagnetite ironsand (2.15 million tonnes). Gold worth $250M in 2006 was produced from two large hard rock mines at Waihi and Macraes Flat, several medium sized alluvial operations, and a large number of small alluvial mines. For further information see production statistics in the Facts and Figures Section.

 

Aggregate and limestone

Nearly 46 million tonnes of rock, sand, and aggregate worth over $557M are produced annually for roading and construction, making a vital contribution to New Zealand’s infrastructure development. Limestone production of 4.1 million tonnes for agriculture and the cement industry is worth over $70M each year.

 

Non-metallic minerals

A number of other industrial rocks and minerals are produced for local and export markets. They include bentonite, various clays, diatomite, perlite, pounamu, pumice, serpentine, silica and zeolite

For more information mineral resources in New Zealand click here.