Story: Mining and underground resources
Martha Hill is an opencast pit at Waihī. Gold and silver occur in narrow quartz veins, cutting across altered volcanic rocks. The ore is blasted, removed in dump trucks, and processed to remove the metals. The steps cut into the side of the pit (called benching) keep the walls stable and allow access to different levels.
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Te Ara - The Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Photograph by Jock Phillips
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