Minerals
An essential Northland industry that underpins infrastructure and development
Diversity
Northland has a diverse mining history and a diverse variety of minerals and currently produces rock and sand aggregates, limestone for cement and agriculture, and high quality ceramic clays for export. Antimony, coal, copper, diatomite, kaolinite clay, kauri gum, manganese, mercury, peat, serpentine, silica sand and silver have been mined in the past and there are prospects for aluminium, bentonite, chromium, feldspar sand, gold, lead, nickel, phosphate, zeolite and zinc.
Bedrock
The minerals industry forms an essential part of the Northland economy. Aggregate production underpins infrastructure and building development. Limestone used as fertiliser supports the agricultural industry. In terms of end value, cement manufacture is one of the most important industries in Northland, worth more than $100 million per year. High value china clay is a significant export commodity.
Potential
Recent studies by GNS Science (the Government’s geological Crown Research Institute) and the NZ Institute of Economic Research have shown that Northland has resource potential worth more than $5 billion for metals and as much as $28 billion for other minerals. Find out more at the Enterprise Northland website.
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