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Hokitika, Westland District, West Coast Region, New Zealandi
Regional Level Types
Hokitika- not defined -
Westland DistrictDistrict
West Coast RegionRegion
New ZealandCountry

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PhotosMapsSearchMineralogy
00688150017272038268287.jpg
View of the Hokitika gold mining area, ca. 1900.

Hokitika, Westland District, West Coast Region, New Zealand
04503790017272038271220.jpg
View of the Hokitika gold mining area, ca. 1900.

Dillmanstown, Hokitika, Westland District, West Coast Region, New Zealand
06694460017272038288060.jpg
View of the Hokitika greenstone mining area, ca. 1910.

Jade Creek, Hokitika, Westland District, West Coast Region, New Zealand
00688150017272038268287.jpg
View of the Hokitika gold mining area, ca. 1900.

Hokitika, Westland District, West Coast Region, New Zealand
04503790017272038271220.jpg
View of the Hokitika gold mining area, ca. 1900.

Dillmanstown, Hokitika, Westland District, West Coast Region, New Zealand
06694460017272038288060.jpg
View of the Hokitika greenstone mining area, ca. 1910.

Jade Creek, Hokitika, Westland District, West Coast Region, New Zealand
00688150017272038268287.jpg
View of the Hokitika gold mining area, ca. 1900.

Hokitika, Westland District, West Coast Region, New Zealand
04503790017272038271220.jpg
View of the Hokitika gold mining area, ca. 1900.

Dillmanstown, Hokitika, Westland District, West Coast Region, New Zealand
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
42° 43' 4'' South , 170° 57' 49'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
-42.71791,170.96380
GRN:
S29E91
Köppen climate type:
Cfb : Temperate oceanic climate
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Hokitika3,401 (2018)0.3km
Greymouth9,419 (2011)34.0km
Dobson738 (2011)40.5km
Blackball321 (2011)53.8km
Harihari345 (2011)58.7km
Mindat Locality ID:
15244
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:15244:9
GUID (UUID V4):
0


Locality for the ornamental stone Goodletite (Ruby rock).

Hokitika was founded during the West Coast gold rushes in 1864, and two years later was one of the largest centres in New Zealand. The main street was rowdy and rough, with miners travelling in to enjoy time off. It is a lot calmer these days with a population of around 3000. Gold, coal, forestry, once the mainstays of the local economy have declined, but the town has revived itself as a tourism centre. The main street is lined with jade outlets, gold nugget, art, glassware, and jewellery shops.

Most of New Zealand's nephrite (jade) is found in the region, and is the basis of a local art and carving industry. Goodletite is a generic term for a local rock, consisting of ruby, sapphire and tourmaline crystals in emerald green fuchsite, with margarite, and chromite. Like nephrite in the area, it is found as loose boulder float, but far rarer, and correspondingly expensive. No 'mother lode' source has yet been discovered. The rock is named after William Goodlet, who recognised it as an unusual stone when visiting the Rimu gold workings in 1892.

The stone has been promoted in recent decades by Gerry Commandeur, who has trade marked the name 'Ruby Rock' for the material, and has a store on the main street of Hokitika. As a Dutch born gem cutter, he migrated to New Zealand, principally to promote the stone. He has endured various vicissitudes over the decades, and the rock remains little known outside of the area.

The stone is cut into thin slices, and mounted with gold as jewellery. Invariably it is photographed backlit, highlighting the colours at their best. Of course this is not possible when wearing it.




Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List

Mineral list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

9 valid minerals.

Rock Types Recorded


Rock list contains entries from the region specified including sub-localities

Select Rock List Type

Alphabetical List Tree Diagram

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ Antigorite
Formula: Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
ⓘ Chromite
Formula: Fe2+Cr3+2O4
ⓘ Clinochlore
Formula: Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
ⓘ Clinochlore var. Sheridanite
Formula: (Mg,Al,Fe)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
ⓘ Corundum
Formula: Al2O3
ⓘ Corundum var. Ruby
Formula: Al2O3
ⓘ Dravite
Formula: NaMg3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
ⓘ 'Ferro-actinolite-Tremolite Series'
ⓘ 'Goodletite'
ⓘ Magnetite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘ Magnetite var. Titanium-bearing Magnetite
Formula: Fe2+(Fe3+,Ti)2O4
ⓘ Margarite
Formula: CaAl2(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Muscovite var. Fuchsite
Formula: K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
ⓘ Native Gold
Formula: Au
Localities: Reported from at least 7 localities in this region.
ⓘ 'Tourmaline'
Formula: AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 1 - Elements
ⓘNative Gold1.AA.05Au
Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘChromite4.BB.05Fe2+Cr3+2O4
ⓘMagnetite4.BB.05Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘvar. Titanium-bearing Magnetite4.BB.05Fe2+(Fe3+,Ti)2O4
ⓘCorundum4.CB.05Al2O3
ⓘvar. Ruby4.CB.05Al2O3
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘDravite9.CK.05NaMg3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
ⓘMuscovite
var. Fuchsite		9.EC.15K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
ⓘ9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘMargarite9.EC.30CaAl2(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2
ⓘClinochlore9.EC.55Mg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
ⓘvar. Sheridanite9.EC.55(Mg,Al,Fe)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
ⓘAntigorite9.ED.15Mg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
Unclassified
ⓘ'Tourmaline'-AD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
ⓘ'Goodletite'-
ⓘ'Ferro-actinolite-Tremolite Series'-

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ AntigoriteMg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
Hⓘ ClinochloreMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Hⓘ DraviteNaMg3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Hⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Hⓘ MargariteCaAl2(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ Ferro-actinolite-Tremolite Series
Hⓘ Clinochlore var. Sheridanite(Mg,Al,Fe)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
BBoron
Bⓘ DraviteNaMg3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Bⓘ TourmalineAD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
OOxygen
Oⓘ AntigoriteMg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
Oⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Oⓘ ClinochloreMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Oⓘ CorundumAl2O3
Oⓘ DraviteNaMg3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Oⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Oⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Oⓘ MargariteCaAl2(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ Corundum var. RubyAl2O3
Oⓘ Magnetite var. Titanium-bearing MagnetiteFe2+(Fe3+,Ti)2O4
Oⓘ TourmalineAD3G6(T6O18)(BO3)3X3Z
Oⓘ Ferro-actinolite-Tremolite Series
Oⓘ Clinochlore var. Sheridanite(Mg,Al,Fe)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
NaSodium
Naⓘ DraviteNaMg3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ AntigoriteMg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
Mgⓘ ClinochloreMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Mgⓘ DraviteNaMg3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Mgⓘ Ferro-actinolite-Tremolite Series
Mgⓘ Clinochlore var. Sheridanite(Mg,Al,Fe)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
AlAluminium
Alⓘ ClinochloreMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Alⓘ CorundumAl2O3
Alⓘ DraviteNaMg3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Alⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Alⓘ MargariteCaAl2(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Alⓘ Corundum var. RubyAl2O3
Alⓘ Clinochlore var. Sheridanite(Mg,Al,Fe)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
SiSilicon
Siⓘ AntigoriteMg3(Si2O5)(OH)4
Siⓘ ClinochloreMg5Al(AlSi3O10)(OH)8
Siⓘ DraviteNaMg3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH)
Siⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Siⓘ MargariteCaAl2(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ Ferro-actinolite-Tremolite Series
Siⓘ Clinochlore var. Sheridanite(Mg,Al,Fe)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
KPotassium
Kⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CaCalcium
Caⓘ MargariteCaAl2(Al2Si2O10)(OH)2
Caⓘ Ferro-actinolite-Tremolite Series
TiTitanium
Tiⓘ Magnetite var. Titanium-bearing MagnetiteFe2+(Fe3+,Ti)2O4
CrChromium
Crⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Crⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
FeIron
Feⓘ ChromiteFe2+Cr23+O4
Feⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Feⓘ Magnetite var. Titanium-bearing MagnetiteFe2+(Fe3+,Ti)2O4
Feⓘ Ferro-actinolite-Tremolite Series
Feⓘ Clinochlore var. Sheridanite(Mg,Al,Fe)6(Si,Al)4O10(OH)8
AuGold
Auⓘ Native GoldAu

Localities in this Region

New Zealand
New Zealand

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

Australian PlateTectonic Plate
New Zealand

This page contains all mineral locality references listed on mindat.org. This does not claim to be a complete list. If you know of more minerals from this site, please register so you can add to our database. This locality information is for reference purposes only. You should never attempt to visit any sites listed in mindat.org without first ensuring that you have the permission of the land and/or mineral rights holders for access and that you are aware of all safety precautions necessary.

References

pers. comm. Gerry Commandeur
Railton, G. T., Watters, W. A. (1990) Minerals of New Zealand. New Zealand Geological Survey Bulletin 104. New Zealand Geological Survey
GRAPES, RODNEY, PALMER, KEN (1996) (Ruby—Sapphire)—Chromian Mica—Tourmaline Rocks from Westland, New Zealand. Journal of Petrology, 37 (2) 293-315 doi:10.1093/petrology/37.2.293
www.nzrubyrock.com (2001) http://www.nzrubyrock.com/index.php
www.cst.cmich.edu (n.d.) http://www.cst.cmich.edu/users/dietr1rv/goodletite.htm
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