Granites and mineralization in New Zealand

Abstract

Granite in New Zealand is confined to the South Island and Stewart Island. There are three major meridionally trending belts in north-west Nelson—Separation Point to Mt Murchison, Kahurangi Point to Ahaura River, and Paparoa Range to Kongahu Point. Isolated granite masses are known in Westland and extensive areas in Fiordland and Stewart Island. The Separation Point to Mt Murchison granite differs from the others in being essentially a soda-alkali type. Directly related to granite are copper-molybdenum-gold-silver-lead-zinc lodes at Mt Radiant and tungsten-tin lodes at Port Pegasus, Stewart Island; probably related are the Reef ton gold lodes, many minor auriferous lpdes, and a baritefluorite deposit; possibly related are the gold-scheelite lodes in the Otago and Marlborough schists. Mining has ceased except for scheelite which is worked by small parties at Glenorchy. Present knowledge of the age of the granites and mineralization is summarized in a table.