Story: Rock, limestone and clay

Kāramuramu Island quarry (2nd of 2)

Kāramuramu Island quarry

This aerial shot of the Hauraki Gulf includes Kāramuramu Island, where rock is quarried for aggregate chips. The reddish-brown mudstone is known as chert, or ‘McCallum chip’. It is popular as a decorative stone for paving slabs, sealing chips and exposed aggregate. Barges carry the quarried material to nearby Auckland. This quarry is a clear indication that some aggregate resources are finite, and that quarrying may have environmental effects. When the site is worked out the source will have been exhausted, and the island mostly removed.

Using this item

GNS Science
Reference: CN9144/10
Photograph by Lloyd Homer

Permission of GNS Science must be obtained before any use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Carl Walrond, 'Rock, limestone and clay - Aggregate', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/5979/karamuramu-island-quarry (accessed 25 April 2024)

Story by Carl Walrond, published 12 Jun 2006