From the discovery of gold deposits in the Coromandel area in 1852, and the gold rushes that followed all over New Zealand, the mineral extraction industry has been an important asset to the national economy. New Zealand’s unique tectonic environment and geological history enabled the formation of a range of mineral deposits including gold, silver and iron sands.
In 2000, a number of commercial operations were mining metallic and non-metallic minerals with an estimated asset value in excess of $220 million. The minerals mined in these operations included gold, silver, aggregate, limestone, clay and iron sand, of which gold and aggregate accounted for 80 percent of the asset value.
The aim of the mineral resource accounts is to provide an overview of the existing mineral stocks, their estimated value and rates of consumption. Energy minerals such as coal, oil and natural gas are not included in this account, but are discussed in detail in the energy resource account.
Stock account
For more information about the mineral account, please see the interpretation of the mineral stock account, which provides links to the accounts.