This programme aims to transform the way we determine, value and utilise metallic minerals to inform land-use decisions in NZ’s premier metal province - a metal-transfer superhighway that moves metal from the mantle to the crust, and runs the length of NZ. Rich in gold, silver, and associated critical metals (e.g., tungsten, antimony, and others), this province has generated revenue for NZ for >150 years, including our economically transformative gold rushes of the 19th century. Recent discoveries demonstrate that this superhighway retains significant capacity to increase regional prosperity along the length of the country. It can also contribute critical elements necessary for societal resilience and global trade.

However, economic benefits will not occur unless key challenges for NZ’s mining industry are addressed. In particular:

• Where will new discoveries of mineralisation most likely to be found?
• How can wastewater discharge be eliminated from new critical-mineral processing plants?
• What are the impacts on environmental concentration of metals that can be expected from mining disturbance of NZ mineralisation? And how can this be minimised?
• What are public expectations for NZ’s minerals industry?
• How can future mining practises and engineering protections address this?

We will investigate physical and chemical processes that control metal-mobility, and the socio-economic nexus between NZ’s mining industry and public expectation. This will provide new understanding of the distribution of precious and critical metals in NZ and how to extract them responsibly, in order to deliver regional prosperity, jobs and trade resilience for NZ.

Content from New Zealand Ministry of Business University of Auckland Reasearch Programme