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Story: Geological exploration

Geophysical explosion

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Geophysical explosion

High explosives were used in seismic exploration. This charge was let off during a visit of Prime Minister George Forbes to a geophysical survey party, under the supervision of Norbert Modriniak, working at Bendigo (near Cromwell) in 1934. The photograph was later seen by Harold Wellman, then working as a gold miner in Nelson, and inspired him to seek a job with the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. He later became one of New Zealand’s leading earth scientists.

Using this item

Auckland Council Libraries − Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau

Reference: Weekly News, 31 March 1934

Permission of Auckland City Libraries Tāmaki Pātaka Kōrero o Tāmaki Makaurau must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page

Simon Nathan, Geological exploration – Mapping, volcanoes and geophysics: 1900–1965, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/8207/geophysical-explosion (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Simon Nathan, published 2 March 2009.