Roa Mine (Paparoa), Greymouth, Grey District, West Coast Region, New Zealandi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Roa Mine (Paparoa) | Mine |
| Greymouth | - not defined - |
| Grey District | District |
| West Coast Region | Region |
| New Zealand | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
42° 21' 6'' South , 171° 21' 42'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
Nearest Settlements:
| Place | Population | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Blackball | 321 (2011) | 4.8km |
| Barrytown | 225 (2012) | 11.6km |
| Dobson | 738 (2011) | 12.0km |
| Greymouth | 9,419 (2011) | 18.4km |
| Gloriavale Christian Church | 570 (2017) | 39.7km |
The Roa coal mine closed early 2016, and with it the end of active underground coal mining along the west coast of New Zealand.
Exploration for coal was conducted across 1903 to 1904, with the Paparoa Coal Company mining the site from 1907 to 1947. The New Zealand government then took control of the mine, which closed in 1971, having exported 1.6 million tonnes of coal from two major coal seams called Morgan and Kimbell.
An impressive aerial ore conveyor was constructed to get coal down from the mountain to the railhead, now where the road ends.
A small open cut operated in the 1980's, producing 6100 tonnes of coal. Francis Mining acquired the mine in 1988, and extended the open pits (called 'open cast' mines in New Zealand) producing a further 250 000 tonnes of coal. This ceased in 1995, after the near surface coal reserves reached exhaustion.
In 1999 a new drive was driven into the mountain, completed January 2000. In 2001, the Roa Mining Company was formed with Coaltrac, then restructured in 2009 as the New Zealand Coal and Carbon Limited, at the time the largest private coal mining company in New Zealand. Needing 3 million dollars to expand, in an environment of low coal prices and demand, the mine closed January 2016.
September 2006, Bernard Green (47), was killed in the underground workings when a tunnel collapsed. He was nicknamed 'Hercules', and played for the New Zealand All Blacks during their 1980 tour of Britain and France, scoring two trys.
The mine entrance is four kilometres beyond Blackball, passing the historic Blackball Mine ruins along the way. The road ends at the head of a valley, with a couple of houses and some no entry signs. The mine itself is way up the side of Mt Davy, and is not accessible.
List of minerals for each chemical element
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
Australian PlateTectonic Plate
- Buller TerraneAccretionary Complex
New Zealand
- South IslandIsland
- Southern AlpsMountain Range
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