Kairuru marble quarry, Pikikiruna Range, Tasman Region, New Zealandi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Kairuru marble quarry | Quarry |
| Pikikiruna Range | Mountain Range |
| Tasman Region | District |
| New Zealand | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
41° 1' 10'' South , 172° 55' 6'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
The area is limestone/marble karst formations, with erosion creating rocks of weird shapes, many sinkholes, and caves. The Ngarua Caves are nearby, with guided tours. Water from the cave systems end up at The Resurgence, a crystal clear spring at the bottom of the hill, which is also a popular attraction. Several scenes from the Hobbit, and Lord of the Rings were filmed at Canaan, 8 kilometres north of Kairuru.
A road was built in 1888, that State Highway 60 still follows, a torturous route of switchbacks, and bends over Takaka Hill. The opening of the road led to access of the marble in the area.
The Kairuru Quarry came to prominence in 1911, when the stone was chosen for use in the parliament buildings in Wellington. It has since been used in the Massey Memorial, refurbishment of the Beehive in Wellington, the Nelson Cathedral amongst other buildings. Large marble blocks were transported to Sandy Bay by a tramline, before being shipped to other parts of New Zealand.
The green building next to the highway just before the Takaka Hill summit is the Ngarua Quarry, known for white, orange, grey marble and golden calcite, however when operational was used for crushed lime. Several other marble quarries are in the area including pink marble in the lower Riuwaka Valley, and grey marble with pyrite from the Marble Mountain Quarry (Marble Acres Quarry?), above Kairuru at Canaan, now part of the Abel Tasman National Park.
Various metal relics remain below the Kairuru Quarry, while the quarry walls show smooth white, grey and black marble. The site is on private property, but can be accessed by staying at Kairuru Farmstays, which is off the main highway, the Nelson side of the Takaka summit.
List of minerals for each chemical element
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
Australian PlateTectonic Plate
- Takaka terraneVolcanic Arc
New Zealand
- South IslandIsland
- Southern AlpsMountain Range
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