Hi there, new to this forum but as someone who spent a lot of time in Taranaki I remember as a wee boy heading out to New Plymouth library reading old fossicking books about gold in Taranaki. One book mentioned small amounts of gold had been found on the Huatoki river although like most I headed up to the Boars head area at the time. Much of what I have seen there is pyrite in a brecciated quartz matrix.
I did find a very siliceous section in one of the streams off the one that parallels the one running through boars head many years ago but can't remember how far up it was. I also headed out with an old time prospector there who took me to the paint mines / pits on the Kaitake ranges which are not far from a disused logging railway line. It was a long time ago now but given the volcanic history there must be some hydrothermal gold some where. I believe native copper has been found around the port sugar loaf islands and Andesitic volcanos tend to be associated with porphyry copper deposits which yield low levels of gold.
Am in Taranaki for three weeks over Christmas / New year otherwise and may head out for a test of a few rivers but as with the family won't get to the South Island this time.
Edited by user Tuesday, 17 December 2013 8:02:37 AM(UTC)
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