New Zealand - South Island lignites - preliminary mining assessment - Home Hills (III)

A Preliminary Mining Assessment for the Home Hills lignite deposit in Central Otago, South Island was carried out from May to September 1981 for the LFTB in Wellington. Using results of previous exploration efforts in the Home Hills coalfield, geological reserves of lignites are in order of 289 million tonnes (100 %) in the indicated category were calculated. This reserve is located in a area of 7.64 square km. At the favourable waste : coal ratio of 1.982:1 - equivalent to roughly 573 million cubic metres of waste (overburden and innerburden) this reserve constitutes the mineable part of this coalfield. Opencast mining is recommended.