Gold Mining

Case Study:
Martha Mine, Waihi
 A Reminder of the Achievement Standard
1. How do people perceive the use of resources?
2. What is the distribution pattern of the farming or
mining type?
3. How does the farming or mining operations
function as a system? (inputs, processes, outputs
and feedback)
4. What are the environmental impacts of farming
or mining operations and what measures are
taken to resolve these impacts?
 Types of Gold Mine
Hard rock mines:
Gold is found as an ore in rock. The gold has to be
removed from the ground, and then separated from
the rock. This can be done in two ways:

1. opencast mining

2. underground
mining
 Types of Gold Mine
Alluvial mines:
Gold has been eroded out of rocks and transported down
rivers in nuggets. Three of the main ways to mine this
type of gold are:

1. panning

2. sluicing

3. dredging
 Gold Producing Areas
of New Zealand
Three main areas:
 Coromandel

 Westland

 Otago/Southland

Two biggest mines:

 Macraes

 Martha Mine

MAP
 Gold Production in New Zealand
World Production (2007):
2,380 tonnes

NZ Production (2007):
10.7 tonnes – $329.5 million NZD
Macraes – 4,481 kg
Martha – 4,594 kg
Other – 1,688 kg

MAP
Martha Mine: Where is it?

Google Earth
 Natural Factors Influencing
Gold Mining Distribution
6 left in the fissures to form hard quartz veins.
* Minerals were
7 and along
* Over time, the surface rock was eroded off the hills and mountains
these fissures.
5 the pressure dropped as it rose.
* The liquid magma cooled and

* Earthquakes from this tectonic activity fractured the land and deep cracks
(fissures) appeared in the volcanic rock. 2

* At the same time, convection currents within the mantle forced mineral-rich
magma3towards the Earth’s surface.

4 in the rocky crust.

* The magma was forced up through these fissures
* Starting about 20 million years ago, New Zealand was squeezed and lifted by
plate tectonics. 1
* The quartz veins became exposed at the surface, allowing the gold to be either
mined as8ore, or to be eroded and washed into rivers and streams (alluvial)
Natural Location Factors of Gold Mining at Waihi
- Can only occur where tectonic
ntctocei activity has occurred. Gold
exists in Waihi due to this happening in the aolnrCemod
Coromandel
20 million years ago.
- Can only occur if the tlqauiy
quality of gold makes it imoocecn
economic .
Quality is measured in carats. Pure gold has 24 carats.
- Can only occur if there is iffsitunce
sufficient quantity of gold present.
Waihi mines an geraave
average of 100,000 oz of gold a year.
- Is only worthwhile if the gold is all together in a etdipso
deposit .
For Martha
ratMah , this was 1.6km long, 30m wide and 600m deep.
- Mining sddpeen
depends on depth. uerdonngrdU
Underground mines are much
more expensive to operate.
Cultural Location Factors of Gold Mining
- Depends on accessibility to the mining area. Waihi township has
grown around the mine site.
- Depends on the skills of the labour force (workers). The Waihi
mine has operated since 1880s so the region has many skilled
miners.
- Depends on who owns the land. Land in Waihi is either owned or
leased by the Newmont company.
- Depends on the capital available – the costs of gold mining are
very high. The mine is owned by Waihi Gold Mining Co. Ltd.
- Depends on the cost of transport as the ore is bulky and thus
expensive to move. The Newmont company uses the latest
technology in the mine.
- Depends on the demand (and price) for gold. As new uses are
found the demand increases and makes it more economic.
Lesson: Processes at Martha Mine in Waihi

Key Questions:
1. What are the 9 key processes that happen at Martha Mine?
2. Where do they happen?

Do Now:
Draw a quick sketch from memory of New Zealand showing the
three main areas of gold mining, and where Martha Mine is located.
Recap: Natural Factors – Why is Martha Mine where it is?

FIVE THINGS. I’m going to choose

FIVE people.
Recap: Cultural Factors – Why is Martha Mine where it is?

SIX THINGS. I’m going to choose

SIX people.
 Activity 1: Processes at Martha Mine

Take a copy of the worksheet. There are NINE steps described

there.
It is your job to read them and put them in order using numbers.
At the same time, highlight the words you don’t know.
You need to know these steps. If I call out your name and say
“Hey, [insert name here], tell me about “Crushing of Ore”!” you
need to be able to tell me about the Crushing of Ore.
 Martha Mine: process summary
Put the following things in order:

Long-Term
Crushing
Rehabilitation

Preparation

Removal of Waste
Exhaustion
Exploration
Progressive
Rehabilitation

Mining Processing
Activity 2: Processes at Martha Mine – where?

1. Take one pamphlet from Martha Mine.

2. Turn to the middle pages showing the photograph of Martha Mine
3. Draw an accurate and awesome precis sketch of the mine. Make
sure you keep the dimensions accurate.
4. Label all the things that are also labelled on the photograph.
5. Using the numbers from the previous activity, indicate where the
nine processes at the gold mine take place. Some processes may
happen in two different places, so use the same number twice.

Example: Exploration is Process #1, so put a 1 in the open pit AND in

Favona
 Activity 3: Martha Mine as a system

Using the information from the yellow booklet and the notes you
have taken so far, write a paragraph explaining how Martha Mine
operates as a system. This is due TOMORROW.
 Martha Mine: a system at work
INPUTS: factors that go into the mine for it to operate

PROCESSES: series of related actions carried out from day to day using the
inputs

OUTPUTS: products of the mine, whether positive or

negative

LOSSES: things discharged and not used or monitored anymore by

the mine

FEEDBACKS: items produced by the mine and put back in to keep it

operating
Lesson: Environmental Problems at Waihi

Key Questions:
1. What are the important environmental problems at Waihi?
2. How does Newmont address these problems?

Do Now:
Start on the following paragraph. You will finish it for homework
and hand it in TOMORROW:
Using the information from the yellow booklet and the notes you have taken so far,
explain how Martha Mine operates as a system. This is due TOMORROW.
 Activity 1: Martha Mine problems and solutions

1. Take a copy of the Problems and Solutions sheet

2. Match the problem to the solution

3. Label each problem from A to J.

4. Locate WHERE each of these problems occur using
your precis sketch from yesterday.
Fact File: Environmental Problems in Waihi

Blasting is only allowed between 7am and 7pm, 5 and

a half days a week

20,000 cubic metres clean water discharged into the Ohinemuri

River

Mine must be less than 55 dBa during the day, 40 decibels at night

Environment Waikato can check the mine at anytime.

Fact File: Environmental Monitoring

Air Monitoring:
Waihi, Paeroa, Katikati
Air passes through a filter and traps dust

Water Monitoring:
Ohinemuri River
Look for any change in flora and fauna
Measure the pH and the conductivity of the water

Ground Monitoring:
Vibrations measured with a geophone
5 permanent positions around Waihi
Water pressure measured in the waste rock
embankment
Cultural Location Factors of Gold Mining
- Depends on accessibility to the mining area. Waihi township has
grown around the mine site.
- Depends on the skills of the labour force (workers). The Waihi
mine has operated since 1880s so the region has many skilled
miners.
- Depends on who owns the land. Land in Waihi is either owned or
leased by the Newmont company.
- Depends on the capital available – the costs of gold mining are
very high. The mine is owned by Waihi Gold Mining Co. Ltd.
- Depends on the cost of transport as the ore is bulky and thus
expensive to move. The Newmont company uses the latest
technology in the mine.
- Depends on the demand (and price) for gold. As new uses are
found the demand increases and makes it more economic.
 Martha Mine: process summary
Put the following things in order:

Long-Term
Crushing
Rehabilitation

Preparation

Removal of Waste
Exhaustion
Exploration
Progressive
Rehabilitation

Mining Processing
Fact File: Environmental Monitoring

Air Monitoring:
Waihi, Paeroa, Katikati
Air passes through a filter and traps dust

Water Monitoring:
Ohinemuri River
Look for any change in flora and fauna
Measure the pH and the conductivity of the water

Ground Monitoring:
Vibrations measured with a geophone
5 permanent positions around Waihi
Water pressure measured in the waste rock
embankment
Lesson: Perception of Martha Mine in Waihi

Key Questions:
1. What are some of the key groups involved with Martha Mine?
2. What are their perspectives on the mine?

Do Now:
In 2 or 3 sentences, explain your opinion of the mine in Waihi. Even if
you have no opinion, explain why.
 THE STORY OF FIVE GROUPS
1. Maori
2. Environmentalists
Place the following groups on the
3. Government values continuum
4. Mining Industry
5. Local Residents

2 1 5 3 4
ANTI PRO
VALUES:

Economic
Environmental Divide your page into FIVE sections, one for
each group. In each, write the following:
Social 1. The name of the group
Cultural 2. Which TWO values would be the
most important to that group
Spiritual 3. Explain how these two values affect
their attitude towards Martha mine at Waihi
Political (both positive and negative)

Scientific
Activity 1: Direct Quotes
Match these direct quotes from the group they represent.

1. “Because of the uncertainty with what’s happening to the mine, we

haven’t had a single offer for our house” Linda Millen, Waihi homeowner
2. “The sheer scale of the toxic legacy of mining, and enormity of the
costs of remediation, is the main reason why there should never be
tailings dams on the Coromandel.”
Coromandel Peninsula Watchdog

3. “We have to push New Zealand more as a target for exploration”

Straterra (mining industry group)
4. “New Zealanders have spoken reasonably strongly that they support
the expansion of our mining and exploration activities, but they don't
support them on pristine parts of the national parks”
John Key
5. “Where iwi could show they held customary right, I would expect them
to benefit from any exploration” Tariana Turia

1. Local residents 2. Environmentalists 3. Mining Industry 4. Government 5. Maori

 Activity 2: Stats and details
Match these stats and details to the group they describe
1. Consider the land taonga, so concerned about pollution. The mine
consults with local iwi, and the council can appoint a representative of
Ngati Tamatera on the Martha trust when the mine closes
Maori

2. Gold provides a lot of tax revenue, aiding the NZ economy. It has an

export value of $250 million Government

3. There are 4500 people living in Waihi. Median house prices increased
from $135,000 to $205,000 in the mid-2000s. There is a concern that
there might be more subsidence like that in 2001, when 2 houses fell
into a hole the size of a rugby field.
Local Residents

4. There are few other jobs available in Waihi. The mine pays out $10 million
in wages. 70% of the employees are local residents. The injects money into
the local economy ($18 million) Mining Industry

5. The Coromandel supports rare and threatened species like Hochstetter’s

frog and the paua slug. Heavy metals (mercury, iron, copper etc) can pollute
water supplies. Environmentalists
Remember – you need to know

1. The distribution of gold mines in New Zealand and the natural and
cultural reasons why that distribution exists
2. How the mine operates as a system (inputs, outputs, processes and
feedbacks), including numbers/names
3. Environmental problems at the mine and how they are resolved
4. Perspectives of the five groups about the mine, and their reasons why
they are for or against the mine (or mixed)
Random Review Questions
1. What are the three main gold-containing areas of New Zealand?

2. What are THREE natural factors that influence the location of Martha Mine?

3. What are THREE cultural factors that influence the location of Martha Mine?
4. What is used to dissolve the gold and silver from the ore at the
processing plant?
5. What is the function of the SAG mill?

6. Name one environmental group concerned with mining in the Coromandel.

7. How long is the conveyor belt?

8. What is the role of the tailings ponds and what are they constructed from?

9. Name ONE environmental problem and how it is solved at Waihi.

10. Name TWO inputs and TWO outputs at the mine, including numbers.