Story: Rock, limestone and clay

Tarakohe cement works

Tarakohe cement works

Taken in 1948, this photograph shows the huge rotary kiln (the horizontal pipe leading to the chimney stack) used to bake the lime slurry as part of the cement-making process. Cement is a finely ground, grey mineral powder made of two main materials, lime and clay. When water is added it acts as a glue, and when mixed with sand and aggregate it forms concrete – the most widely used construction material in the world.

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library, Tourist and Publicity Department Collection
Reference: 1/2-034181; F
Photograph by W. Walker

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

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How to cite this page:

Carl Walrond, 'Rock, limestone and clay - Cement, marble and dolomite', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/5229/tarakohe-cement-works (accessed 19 April 2024)

Story by Carl Walrond, published 12 Jun 2006