Story: Marine minerals

Mining ironsands, Taharoa

Mining ironsands, Taharoa

South of Kāwhia Harbour at Taharoa, in the Waikato, ironsands occur as dunes and beach sands. The action of the waves moves the sand ashore, and helps to concentrate the heavy ironsands – in much the same way that swirling water in a gold pan concentrates gold. While this mine is obviously onshore, ironsand deposits also form part of the seabed.

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How to cite this page:

Ian Wright, 'Marine minerals - Phosphates, ironsands and sands', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/5521/mining-ironsands-taharoa (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Ian Wright, published 12 Jun 2006