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Story: Kōhatu – Māori use of stone

Adzite quarry

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Adzite quarry

This quarry is on D’Urville Island (Rangitoto). In general, the adzite was quarried with hammers. Tools and weapons were made from the hardest type of adzite (baked or metasomatised argillite), which could be highly polished.

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GNS Science

Reference: SL47-44

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How to cite this page

Phil Moore and Bruce McFadgen, Kōhatu – Māori use of stone – Other uses for stone, Te Ara – the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, https://teara.govt.nz/en/photograph/8885/adzite-quarry (accessed 4 June 2026).

Story by Phil Moore and Bruce McFadgen, published 2 March 2009.