Orepuki coal mines (Hennessy's), Orepuki, Southland District, Southland Region, New Zealandi
| Regional Level Types | |
|---|---|
| Orepuki coal mines (Hennessy's) | Group of Mines |
| Orepuki | - not defined - |
| Southland District | District |
| Southland Region | Region |
| New Zealand | Country |
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Latitude & Longitude (WGS84):
46° 15' 32'' South , 167° 44' 26'' East
Latitude & Longitude (decimal):
Type:
Group of Mines
Köppen climate type:
This is a small coal field, with an estimated 8 million tonnes of recoverable coal. Active coal mining occurred from 1883 to 1962, producing a total during that time of 85,000 tonnes of coal. This was just to the north of Orepuki, at various locations in the lower Waimeamea valley.
There were probably several small mines in the area over the years, but little information was found. (Brothers, 1959) mentions a Hennessy's coal mine, but no information could be found on it. He states oil shale at the site was only a few inches thick, 'but a cutting was made from an extract pit several miles south-east near Taunoa Stream, (actually just north of Orepuki), and the bed was 4-5 feet thick'.
Hutton & Ulrich (1875) commented that the oil shale was "[l]aminated, very fissile, greyish black, shale flexible in thin layers, densely speckled with mica scales, cuts easily with the knife with unctuous, waxy, section; inflames readily over ignited lucifer match, and maintains after removal of the match a long somewhat smoky flame".
The Orepuki Coal and Shale Company, and the New Zealand Coal and Shale Company operated in the area in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries.
The succession is basal sandstone, fossilferous sandstone, argillite and igneous conglomerate, mudstone with carbonaceous lenses, coal and oil shale, then sandstone. (Brothers, 1959) examined heavy minerals from Hennessy's pit, and another un-named pit nearby on the Taunoa Creek. At the former location, was found clear epidote crystal fragments, light brown to black tourmaline, a high percentage of zircon, hornblende dominating opaque minerals greenish black to deep green, and quartz fragments with inclusions of hornblende, rutile, tourmaline and possibly cordierite. It should be noted all these species are grain sized, and in hand specimens are likely to be singularly unimpressive.
Mindat co-ordinates approximate.
Rock Types Recorded
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Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality
Australian Plate
- Takaka terraneVolcanic Arc
New Zealand
- South IslandIsland
Pacific PlateTectonic Plate
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