Post-Conference Field Trips: Thursday 26 - Friday 27 November 

Petroleum exploration and production in North Canterbury
Leaders: Mac Beggs (University of Canterbury), Nick Jackson (Elemental Petroleum Consultants), Bill Leask  (Elemental Petroleum Consultants), Andy Nicol (University of Canterbury)
Date: 1-Day trip, 26 November 2020
Cost: $60/person

This field trip would visit the Hanmer Springs thermal pools which derives energy from natural gas co-produced with the thermal water, in a project commissioned under a New Zealand’s smallest petroleum mining permit which was granted to the Hurunui District Council in 2016.

It will also visit the sites of exploration wells Kowai-1 and Kate-1, which are associated with surface anticlinal structures and discuss the geology revealed by the wells in relation to surface mapping.

Banks Peninsula’s Best Bits: Volcanology, Research and Geopark
Leaders: Sam Hampton (University of Canterbury/Frontiers Abroad) and Darren Gravley (University of Canterbury/Frontiers Abroad)
Date: 1-Day trip, 26 November 2020
Cost: $40/person

This field trip will showcase key sites, findings, hypotheses, lessons, understandings, and visions from the last decade of research on Banks Peninsula by Frontiers Abroad Aotearoa and the School of Earth and Environment, UC. Detailed systematic mapping and sampling have provided insights into the processes and formation of the volcanic system, and volcanic complex development. Our independent research projects use the landscape as a linking principle, with projects ranging from mapping, Mātauranga Māori, Quaternary sequences, and Geoparks. This research has provided foundational understandings and relationships in the formulation and collaborative creation of Te Pātaka o Rākaihautū / Banks Peninsula Geopark.

Walking Tour of Christchurch CBD Rebuild
Leaders: Clark Fenton (UC SEE) and Brandy Alger (UC QuakeCore)
Date: 1-Day trip, 26 November 2020
Cost: $10/person

The 2010-2011 Canterbury Earthquake Sequence had a devastating effect on the Ōtautahi/Christchurch Central Business District (CBD).  A combination of earthquake-prone construction and widespread ground failure resulted in many buildings suffering irreparable damage, and in a number of tragic cases, complete collapse.  In the decade following the earthquakes the CBD has experienced a remarkable transformation with much of the old earthquake-prone building stock being demolished and replaced with new structures employing the latest in earthquake-resilient design.  In addition, many heritage buildings have been saved by employing novel retrofit strategies.  This walking tour will showcase the renewal of central Ōtautahi.  The role of local geology in creating hazardous ground conditions and the latest mitigation measures to overcome these problems will be discussed. This trip will involve city walking through almost flat terrain.  Some rough ground may be encountered when crossing some of the remaining ‘gap’ sites.  Although lunch will not be provided on this trip, participants will have time to purchase food at the new Riverside Market.

West Coast placer mineral deposits 
Leader: John Taylor with support from Nick Whetter, John Joungson, John Barry, John Morris, and Tom Ritchie 
Date: 2-Day trip, 27 & 28 November 2020
Cost: Students $20; AusIMM Members $100; Non-members $140 
Minivan transport and packed lunches included. Delegates need to make own accommodation and dinner arrangements for Friday night in Greymouth and breakfast on Saturday.  Student accommodation will be organised by AusIMM but not dinner and breakfast.

Register: Registration can be completed via the online conference registration form which can be found on the registration page. You will have the option to register for the Forum and/or Field Trip only, alternatively to register for the full GSNZ (Geoscience Society of New Zealand) Conference 2020 including the Placer Minerals Forum and/or Field Trip. 

This field trip follows the AusIMM NZ Branch Placer Deposit Forum at University of Canterbury and promises to be very interesting overview. We will visit a variety of placer mineral deposits along the stunning West Coast. Stops will include garnet investigations at Ruatapu, south of Hokitika; “Dry” and “Wet” alluvial gold operations at Camerons, near Greymouth; garnet and black sands at Barrytown; cemented deep “lead” gravels deposits in the Charleston goldfield; and ilmenite dune sands at Cape Foulwind, near Westport. Deposit specialists will host each stop and talk about the deposit geology, mineral potential and mining methods. If time permits, we may drop in at the NZ Minerals Institute laboratory at Dobson. Field trip handout materials from published reports will be made available to delegates. A detailed itinerary will be provided to those who want to partake in this rare and interesting field trip opportunity.

Please address questions related the programme, content or logistic arrangements for the Field Trip to Dean Fergusson: dean@rarl.co.nz.