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Cobb Magnesite Quarry, Cobb Valley, Tasman Region, New Zealandi
Regional Level Types
Cobb Magnesite QuarryQuarry
Cobb ValleyValley
Tasman RegionDistrict
New ZealandCountry

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PhotosMapsSearch
03869500017272038718355.jpg
Magnesite, etc.

Cobb Magnesite Quarry, Cobb Valley, Tasman Region, New Zealand
03869500017272038718355.jpg
Magnesite, etc.

Cobb Magnesite Quarry, Cobb Valley, Tasman Region, New Zealand
04141630017272352458450.jpg
Magnesite, etc.

Cobb Magnesite Quarry, Cobb Valley, Tasman Region, New Zealand
Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
41° 6' 12'' South , 172° 41' 58'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
-41.10350,172.69965
GRN:
S28E94
Type:
Quarry
Köppen climate type:
Cfb : Temperate oceanic climate
Nearest Settlements:
PlacePopulationDistance
Riwaka986 (2011)25.3km
Motueka7,485 (2017)26.7km
Takaka1,223 (2011)29.4km
Tapawera432 (2011)34.4km
Mapua1,819 (2011)37.2km
Mindat Locality ID:
297409
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:2:297409:8
GUID (UUID V4):
0


Magnesite blocks were cut out of the quarry by Lime and Marble Ltd to use magnesium on tobacco farms, from the 1960's until the quarry closed in 1981.

Steatite Ltd took out a mining lease over the area in 2008, and proposed new mining of soapstone to make eco-friendly heat retentive wood burners. This met with considerable local opposition, with DOC subsequently declining the mining application based on the unique flora over the magnesite outcrops. Steatite Ltd surrendered the lease in 2014, and in 2016 the area was incorporated into the Kahurangi National Park.

The area contains several relatively small and narrow lenses of magnesite along faults of the ultramafic belt of the Cobb Igneous Complex within the Devil River Volcanics Group. The Cobb locality represents New Zealand's largest magnesite resource.

The old quarry can be driven to by a 4 wheel drive, via a side road to the northern side of the valley just north of the Cobb Dam wall.

Select Mineral List Type

Standard Detailed Gallery Strunz Chemical Elements

Mineral List


8 valid minerals.

Detailed Mineral List:

ⓘ 'Garnierite'
ⓘ Hematite
Formula: Fe2O3
ⓘ Magnesite
Formula: MgCO3
ⓘ Magnetite
Formula: Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘ Muscovite
Formula: KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
ⓘ Muscovite var. Fuchsite
Formula: K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
ⓘ Quartz
Formula: SiO2
ⓘ Siderite
Formula: FeCO3
ⓘ Talc
Formula: Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
ⓘ Willemseite
Formula: Ni3Si4O10(OH)2

Gallery:

List of minerals arranged by Strunz 10th Edition classification

Group 4 - Oxides and Hydroxides
ⓘMagnetite4.BB.05Fe2+Fe3+2O4
ⓘHematite4.CB.05Fe2O3
ⓘQuartz4.DA.05SiO2
Group 5 - Nitrates and Carbonates
ⓘMagnesite5.AB.05MgCO3
ⓘSiderite5.AB.05FeCO3
Group 9 - Silicates
ⓘTalc9.EC.05Mg3Si4O10(OH)2
ⓘWillemseite9.EC.05Ni3Si4O10(OH)2
ⓘMuscovite
var. Fuchsite		9.EC.15K(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
ⓘ9.EC.15KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Unclassified
ⓘ'Garnierite'-

List of minerals for each chemical element

HHydrogen
Hⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Hⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Hⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Hⓘ WillemseiteNi3Si4O10(OH)2
CCarbon
Cⓘ MagnesiteMgCO3
Cⓘ SideriteFeCO3
OOxygen
Oⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Oⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Oⓘ MagnesiteMgCO3
Oⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Oⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Oⓘ QuartzSiO2
Oⓘ SideriteFeCO3
Oⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Oⓘ WillemseiteNi3Si4O10(OH)2
MgMagnesium
Mgⓘ MagnesiteMgCO3
Mgⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
AlAluminium
Alⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Alⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
SiSilicon
Siⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Siⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
Siⓘ QuartzSiO2
Siⓘ TalcMg3Si4O10(OH)2
Siⓘ WillemseiteNi3Si4O10(OH)2
KPotassium
Kⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
Kⓘ MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2
CrChromium
Crⓘ Muscovite var. FuchsiteK(Al,Cr)3Si3O10(OH)2
FeIron
Feⓘ HematiteFe2O3
Feⓘ MagnetiteFe2+Fe23+O4
Feⓘ SideriteFeCO3
NiNickel
Niⓘ WillemseiteNi3Si4O10(OH)2

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

www.stuff.co.nz (n.d.) http://www.stuff.co.nz/nelson-mail/lifestyle-entertainment/weekend/8259232/Quarry-worry
www.radio.nz.co.nz (n.d.) https://www.radio.nz.co.nz/news/national/309231/kahurangi-national-park-gains-another-890ha
Department of Conservation (New Zealand) (2015), Proposed Additions to Kahurangi National Park, Board Paper 15/.93/05, August 2015 meeting DOC-2523308
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