TANGARAKAU COALFIELD.

Taranaki Daily News, 27 June 1921, Page 6

TANGARAKAU COALFIELD.

RESULT OF THE SURVEY. NUMEROUS OUTCROPS LOCATED. Mr. R. Masters, M.P., is in receipt of the following from the Hon. G. J. Anderson (Minister of Mines): In continuation of previous correspondence which haa taken place between the Department and yourself regarding the Tangarakau coalfield, I have recently been advised by the Director of Geological Survey as to the results obtained by Messrs. Ellis and Marshall in carrj’ing out the field Wotk in this district for the past season. A draft summary of such results is as follows: “A considerable area, extending from Tahora northward through the Tangarakau Gorge to north of Ohura, in the Pouatn, Haeo, Waro and Qhura Survey Districts has been geologically and topographically surveyed. Part of this area, notwithstanding its comparatively low altitude, is very rugged and was unpleasant and difficult to survey. Dense forest, added greatly to the difficulty of

the work. Several quite large streams, 'as well as many small ones, hitherto not on the Lands and Survey maps, have been surveyed, and it will now be possible to produce an excellent topographical map of the area examined.

The area in which coal measures occur has been exactly delimited, and numerous coal outcrops, many hitherto unknown, have been located and are shown in exact position on the field maps The coal measures proper are about 100 feet in thickness, and contain in most places several seams of coak The thickest outcrop observed, however, was only sft. This occurs in section 2, block I, Ohura S.D. (Aitchison’s farm). The seam, however, does not maintain this thickness, but along the strike thins to Ift. 3in. 10 chains, and on the dip to 3ft. in 20 chains. In the Tangarakau Gorge urea the thickest outcrop of coal is 3ft. 9in. In places faulting is prominent. It is quite certain that under present conditions the coal of the Tangarakau Gorge and that near Tatu and Ohura cannot be profitably worked on a large scale. Small mines to satisfy local requirements may possibly be established at some future time, but in view of the important field of coal near Kaitewhena, north of Ohura, action in®this direction does not seem advisable.

In several places thick but variable bands of conglomerate suitable for roadmaking purposes have been found. The Ohura County Council intends opening a quarry in Gorge Creek, 3 miles west”of Ohura. Here the conglomerate is JOO feet thick. Mr. Ellis, as a result of his geological examination of this locality, was able to indicate to the county engineer a much better site for the quarry than tnat originally selected.”