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Story: Rock, limestone and clay

Blasting, Wilsonville quarry

Video file

Most hard-rock quarries use explosives, which are plugged into holes drilled in the rock face. When they are detonated the rock face shatters outwards onto the quarry floor. The rocks are then put into crushers which gradually reduce them to small pieces. Watch footage from a blast at Wilsonville limestone quarry, near Whangārei, which supplies a cement works.

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Orica Mining Services

by Ian Hamilton

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How to cite this page

Carl Walrond, Rock, limestone and clay – Sources and uses, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/video/5216/blasting-wilsonville-quarry (accessed 24 June 2026).

Story by Carl Walrond, published 2 March 2009.