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Story: Coal and coal mining

Underground and opencast mining, 1878–2003

Underground and opencast mining, 1878–2003

This graph shows the remarkable increase in opencast mining in the 50 years after the Second World War. By the 2000s only about 20% of New Zealand’s annual coal production came from underground mines.

Source: Annual production reports, Mines Department, Ministry of Energy, Crown Minerals, Ministry of Economic Development.

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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand

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How to cite this page:

Alan Sherwood and Jock Phillips. 'Coal and coal mining', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, updated 24-Sep-11
URL: http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/coal-and-coal-mining/6/5