Exkursion New Zealand 2017

In march 2017 the MRE made an excursion with 13 participants over 2.5 weeks to New Zealand. The objectives of the excursions were to learn more about the isolated raw materials industry of the insular state and the local unique geological phenomena. Dr. Paul Ashley and Prof. Bernd Lottermoser guided the excursion. The tour were financal supported by:

• Vereinigung Aachener Bergakademiker e.V
• Prof. Dr.- Berg.-Ing. H Goergen und Frau Elisabeth Stiftung
• Verein der Steinkohlenwerke des Aachener Bezirks e.V
• Herrenknecht AG

South Island

The excursion started in Christchurch and led through the active earthquake region around Kaikoura, via the Southern Alps to Greymouth. The group visited some non-active und partly post gold mines there.

The Group visited the Pike River Memorial outside Greymouth – A monument that was built after the disastrous mine accident in the eponymous coal mine in 2010. Afterwards the former director of the mine rescue station gave a deeper look into to that accident with an interesting guided tour of the station.

The route continuous along the glacier area of New Zealand and passed the city Queenstown and run into the region Otago, where the biggest part of the gold production of the country take place. The participants of the excursion had the chance to see the difference between a medium-sized, alluvial gold-mine and a large active open pit mine with an extended underground operation.

North Island

Via Christchurch and Wellington the group went to the North Island of New Zealand. With a stopover in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, the tour led to north coast of the Island, were the group visited the active volcano “White Island”. This active volcano zone reflects imposingly recent deposit genesis, which can be seen here in an exceptional way.

The North and the West of the Island are strongly influenced by the production of raw materials. Especially the Aggregate and Quarry industry as well as the coal and gold extraction are present here. Several insights into a plurality of mining operations allowed the participations of the excursion to understand the difficulty of the local mining industry and to discuss professionally with local mining experts.

Detailed Information about the route and closer specialized information can be found in the report of excursion.