Kōrero: Geology – overview

Volcanic ash band

Volcanic ash band

This photograph is of a roadside exposure of loess (wind-blown dust) at Aokautere, near Palmerston North. The thin white layer in the upper part of the cutting is Oruanui ash, produced when Taupō erupted about 26,500 years ago.

Oruanui (previously named Aoukautere or Kawakawa) ash is the most widespread ash from an eruption in New Zealand during the last 100,000 years. It is found all over the North Island, and has been identified in the South Island and as far offshore as the Chatham Islands.

Te whakamahi i tēnei tūemi

Massey University
Photograph by Alan Palmer

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Ngā whakaahua me ngā rauemi katoa o tēnei kōrero

Te tuhi tohutoro mō tēnei whārangi:

Eileen McSaveney and Simon Nathan, 'Geology – overview - Quaternary volcanism', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/mi/photograph/8399/volcanic-ash-band (accessed 30 March 2024)

He kōrero nā Eileen McSaveney and Simon Nathan, i tāngia i te 12 Jun 2006