Mining interests
editIn the 1980s, Australian mining company Conzinc Riotinto of Australia (CRA)—which is these days part of Rio Tinto—was drilling for gold at Sams Creek.[1] In 1985, the Native Forests Action Council expressed concern over three large mining proposals in the North-west Nelson Forest Park, covering an area of 42,000 ha (420 km2) – larger than the area of Abel Tasman National Park. Sams Creek was one of the three proposals, and 26 drill sites had been established by then. To get access, CRA had bulldozed tracks into the steep-sided native forest.[2] The concerns of the Native Forests Action Council, led by Guy Salmon, was acknowledged by Murray Hosking, the director of environmental forestry of the Forest Service.[3] The president of the New Zealand Mining and Exploration Association, Roger Adamson, spoke of the potential economic benefits from gold mining at Golden Cross, Union Hill, and the Martha Mine at Waihi, Macraes Mine in Otago, and Sams Creek in Golden Bay.[4]
In 1987, CRA put its 701 ha (1,730 acres) Sams Creek prospect for sale, expecting NZ$10 million. The reason for their desire to sell was that they only wanted to deal with large scale deposits.[5] Two years later, CRA still owned the claimed and had by then been given consent for bulk sampling 8000 tons of rock by the Minister of Conservation, Philip Woollaston. The adviory committee of North-west Nelson Forest Park gave its qualified support for bulk sampling, which the Maruia Society criticised as "small-scale mining".[6]
By 2004, the exploration rights belonged to OceanaGold. They reported an inferred gold prospect of 750,000 oz (21,000 kg) extending over a length of 7 km (4.3 mi). At the time, OceanaGold was drilling for further exploration of the resource.[7]
- ^ "CRA says it will return". The Press. 12 June 1985. p. 36. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ "Moratorium on park drilling sought". The Press. 5 December 1985. p. 72. Retrieved 16 November 2024.
- ^ "Threat of large-scale mining acknowledged". The Press. 8 January 1986. p. 23. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ Adamson, Roger G. (11 August 1986). "Mining and the N.Z. economy". The Press. p. 20. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "$10M tag on CSR claim". The Press. 1 July 1987. p. 39. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Maruia Soc. to fight prospecting licence". The Press. 26 September 1989. p. 3. Retrieved 18 November 2024.
- ^ "Oceana expands assets". The Northern Miner. Toronto, Ontario. 3 September 2004. p. 8. ProQuest 243439111.