THE CLAYS OF NEW ZEALAND

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 221, 12 June 1919, Page 7

THE CLAYS OF NEW ZEALAND

A POTENTIAL SOUItCE OF WEALTH. 'At the meeting of the geological section of the Philosophical Society, held in the Museum lust -evening, Mr. P. (j. Morgan; Director of Geological Surveys, read « very interesting paper on the "Clays oi' New Zealand." It dealt exhaustively with the clays to be found in the Dominion, ami apparently the- country is rich, in cluys oi various kinds, aud there is here ft potential .source of wealth,and one that deserves to be thoroughly investigated. . ■ '■' ' ■■■■"■■ piny, broadly defined, i 3 soft earth, which, mixed with water, becomes plnstic, ami can-be moulded. Clay is formed in various ways b> the .weatneriiig of rocks. sucli as shale, slate, etc.,. and also'in other ways .by feldspar-beariiii' rocks, such as granite, etc. ■' : : ' ■ ' '■■ A. good fireclay J9 found in the Bay of Islands in the Whangurei district, and pottery clay and Fuller's Earth arealso found in tho Whnngarei district. Good fireclays ate found At Miranda and Huntly, and afGlenmas'sey, south-west of Ngii- . ruawahia. There is also found here a food china clay which is also- valuable as Fuller's Eartli. Some of tho clays in. ' tho Hot Lakes district are i Ifio valuable. A Kaolin-like clay, suitable for pottery, Sorcelain, chinaware, etc., occurs near mart l.oad, Now Plymouth. .Ordinary brick . clays are widely distributed throughout New Zealand. Good brick clays are- to-be found in the' Wellington • district, and some of these clays could ; b? used for the manufacture of, rough • pottery.. Nearly pure clays occur at Motopipi, and in the Colliug'.vood district, Nelson. In the Wostport, Greymouth, and Hokitil;a districts there are treat quantities'of. marine clays which f may be .Useful for brick-making, - otc. Good fireclays occur in Hid Hrunner district, ■ A. very puro clay is found at the Kakahu Gorge in South Canterbury. The Glen tunnel clays areVuikblo for bricks, pipes, tiles, and rough pottery. Otigo possesses largo quantities of brick and tile clays, and 'extremely good, lire clays occur, in the Tlokonui district west of Gore, and good Fuller's Earth is found in the same district. It was the opinion of the lecturer that research work on New Zealand clays wns very desirable. Sonin research work had already been done by chemists, but it was necessary that (lie various localities should be thoroughly explored, so (is to determine tho (|imntily and value of tho clay available. Simples should bo taken by trained experts and chemical and physical analysis made. A small experimental planfc I'or the miiniifact.irn of clay goods shouhl' al?o bp. established. Such an investigation would enable us to ascertain the exiiot value nf our clays. In order to carry out those tests mid exnoriments, the services nf geologists, chemists, and clay technologists would bo required. Mr. D. AV. lTolnics, Engineer in Ohiof, Public Works Department, referred to tho. difficulties of conytructinij roads and railways in clay strata. Ho described the uses of fioino of the olnys found in New 'Zealand. Tnller'n Eartli was used in tlie arts for cleaning purposes, and was absorbent. Pipc'clny was used as a pigment for leather articles. Ultramarine wiK obtained from the purest Kaolin. Tho lecture and discussion that followed though highly technical in character were very interesting. A vote of t.hanlcs wan accorded the Ice-