Parkside Quarry (oamaru stone), Oamaru, Otago Region, New Zealandi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Parkside Quarry (oamaru stone) | Quarry |
| Oamaru | City |
| Otago Region | Region |
| New Zealand | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
45° 4' 31'' South , 170° 54' 16'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Köppen climate type:
The deposit comprises hard compact, uniformly granular creamy white limestone used for buildings, and sculpture. The deposit is 40 metres thick of bryzoan limestone, being 90% calcium carbonate, with minor alumina, iron oxide, and silica. The stone is porous at first, but hardens on exposure to air.
Two tonne blocks were originally taken out using a steam driven chainsaw on rails (see video in references), but now the saws are attached to the ends of excavators. The blocks are transported to the factory, 400 metres away to be cut into the required sizes. The quarry produces 7000 tonnes of limestone a year, and waste is crushed into agricultural lime, producing 60 000 tonnes a year.
The quarry has been operating since 1906, and a number of public buildings have used the stone, including the Auckland central post office, Dunedin railway station, Dunedin court house, Unity of Otago registry building, Christchurch arts centre, Waitaki District Council building, and most of the historic waterfront area of Oamaru.
The stone is popular as sculptures, with examples for sale in the Oamaru historic area, near the Steampunk headquarters. Every two years an Oamaru stone sculpting symposium is held in the town.
The quarry was taken over by Joe Mitchell in 1974, who owned adjoining farmland. The quarry is managed by Bob Wilson. His wife, Linda Wilson, conducts tours by arrangement of the quarry, and the Rockvale Gardens are nearby, featuring oamaru stone sculptures.
The quarry is 7 kilometres east of Oamaru, just west of Weston, on the Weston-Ngapara Road, while Rockvale Gardens are nearby on Airedale Road.
Commodity List
This is a list of exploitable or exploited mineral commodities recorded at this locality.List of minerals for each chemical element
Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
Australian Plate
- Torlesse TerraneAccretionary Complex
New Zealand
- South IslandIsland
- ⭔Waitaki DistrictDistrict
Pacific PlateTectonic Plate
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