West Coast Of South Island Research Articles

Hypothesis on the pedogenesis of the ‘gley podzols’ of the west coast of South Island, New Zealand

SUMMARYThe gley podzols of the west coast of South Island, New Zealand, typically exhibit permanent waterlogging extending from the surface to depths of 1–3 m. Their formation is explained by a continuation of processes which give rise to Peaty Podzols with thin iron pan (Ironpan Stagnopodzols; Placaquods). Iron pans initially formed within the upper B horizon are breached by acidic reducing waters and reform at a succession of lower levels down to 3 m or more below the surface.

Nestegis(Oleaceae) pollen in coastal sites in Westland

Abstract Pollen grains of the tree genus Nestegis (Oleaceae) have been identified in interglacial sites along the west coast of the South Island from Westport to Hari Hari, but they are not recorded in any post-glacial site in the South Island. he pollen records provide a means of recognising interglacial sites along the west coast of northern South Island.

Response of pastures to nitrogen fertiliser applied in autumn and spring on the West Coast of South Island, New Zealand

Abstract The effect of nitrogen application (0, 25, 50, and 100 kg N/ha) on spring and autumn pasture yield was measured on the West Coast. All rates of nitrogen application increased dry matter production; the average pasture yield response was 360-1080 kg DM/ha in the spring and 120-510 kg DM/ha in the autumn. Spring responses were highest from September applications. March and April were the best months for autumn applications but responses were smaller and less reliable than from applications in the spring.

The causes of Sapstain in Red Beech

Summary Sapstain in untreated sapwood of red beech (Nothofagus fusca (Hook.f.) Oerst.) from the west coast of South Island was caused by a discolouration of the contents of the wood ray cells followin~ infection by Ceratocystis piceae (Münch) Bakshi. A similar mechanism was mvolved in the staining of borondip treated boards. but there Phialophora fastigiata (Lagerb. and Melin) Conant was the sapstain fungus. An unidentified member of the Sphaeropsidales was the principal fungus isolated from steamed boards where stam was caused by an accumulation of dark pigmented hyphae in the vessels. Laboratory tests confirmed the role of all three fungi in the development of sapstain. Momentary dipping in a sodium pentachlorophenate-borax solution gave some measure of control. but growth of C. piceae was not completely eliminated. Rapid drying (i.e., forced-air drying) or a dip in a sodium azideborax solution prevented the development of sapstain.

Origin and circulation of water types on the 26.00 sigma-t surface of the south-west Pacific

CSIRO hydrological data from the south-west Pacific (0-45�S., 140°E.-160� W.) during 1960-67 have been used to calculate annual means of salinity and oxygen, within 5� squares, on the 26.00 sigma-t surface. In addition, for some squares it was possible to calculate mean summer (December-February) and mean winter (July- September) values of salinity and oxygen. From the annual means the salinity-oxygen relations were used to characterize four water types. Water type 1 of tropical origin had a salinity of 35.03‰ and an oxygen content of 3.20 ml/l. Water type 2, also of tropical origin, had a salinity of 35.23‰ and an oxygen content of 2.30 ml/l. Water type 3 of subtropical origin had a salinity of 35 +66‰ and an oxygen content of 5.45 ml/l. Water type 4 of Subantarctic origin had a salinity of 34.80‰ and an oxygen content of 6.00 ml/l. The ultimate origins of water types 1 and 2 are thought to be at considerable distances from the south-west Pacific region. Water type 1 is suggested as a mixture of waters of the North Equatorial Pacific, to the west of about 160°W., and waters of type 3 originating in the south Tasman Sea and other regions of the south Pacific. Water type 2 forms at around 16O°W., by mixing of eastern tropical Pacific waters and water type 3. It is thought that water types 1 and 2 form at different times of the year depending upon the extent of meridional or zonal flow in the central Equatorial region. Water types 3 and 4, however, are formed by southward spreading and winter cooling at the surface of subtropical waters, and by northward spreading and summer warming at the surface of Subantarctic waters, respectively. These two water types are therefore of south-west Pacific origin. Generally in the Tasman Sea (south of 25�S.), the concentration of water type 1 is very low (less than 10%); of water type 2 only a little higher (20-30%), but that of water type 3 is high (around 60-75%). The concentration of water type 4 was much greater (40%) off the west coast of South Island, New Zealand, than off the east coast of Tasmania (15 %). Seasonal pulses in the concentrations of water types 1 and 2 along 170�E., between 0 and 15�S., are in phase with seasonal changes in the concentration of these two water types in the Tasman and Coral Seas, if these water types spread southward at about 10 cm/sec. Summer increases in the concentration of water type 3 in the Tasman Sea off New Caledonia have been explained by the northward spreading of the previous winter's accumulation of this water type in the central Tasman Sea.

Ilmenite deposits in New Zealand

Summary A reconnaissance survey in 1948 shows that on the South Island West Coast beaches between Karamea and Jacksons Bay there is available upwards' of 1,000 million tons of dredgable sand from which ilmenite and small amounts of minerals and gold could be recovered. The most important locality is immeditely south of the Buller River, near Westport, where two large beach deposits are estimated to contain over 90 million tons of sand. Nineteen posthole bores, ranging in depth from 4 to 20 ft, averaged 5·5% of ilmenite, assaying 44% to 45% TiO2.

Jade; A Comprehensive Bibliography

Nephrite is a silicate of calcium and magnesium, often containing small amounts of iron and is one of the amphibole group of minerals. It is distinguished by its structure, which is characteristically fibrous, and of such fine grain that the individual fibers are hardly visible. The fibers are variously arranged, parallel to each other, curved, twisted, fan-shaped, interlocked and felted in complicated fashion. Since the hardness is 6.5, and specific gravity close to 3, it fuses with some difficulty to a greenish glass and is not decomposed by hydrochloric acid. Nephrite is found abundantly on the west coast of South Island in New Zealand, where it occurs as boulders and sometimes as nodules and veins in serpentine and talcose rocks. Specimens appear also in New Caledonia and in some of the other Pacific Islands. Siberia has yielded very fine dark green nephrite, notably from the neighborhood of the Alibert Graphite Mine, near Batugol, Lake Baikal. Quarries in Karakash and Yarkand River valleys, Turkestan, have furnished much of the nephrite used by the Chinese. Switzerland, Alaska and British Columbia also yield pure nephrite. Jadeite is a silicate of aluminium and sodium, usually containing small quantities of iron, calcium and magnesium and is one of the pyrozene group of minerals. It has a vitreous luster, varying from translucent to opaque, and occurs very rarely in distinct crystals, but usually massive and closely compact. With a hardness of about 7 and specific gravity of approximately 3.3, it fuses readily to a clear glass and is not decomposed by hydrochloric acid until after having been fused. The chief supply of jadite, including the precious emerald green fei-ts'ui, comes from Burma, where it has been found in the several tributaries of the Irrawaddy River, and at Taumaw, Hweka and Mamon. It also occurs in Turkestan where nephrite is found, and other Asiatic localities. The most productive deposits appear to be in Belurtag, the jade mountain of the Chinese, on the upper waters of the Tishab River, near Yarkand. It is mined by Kachins and shipped to the lapidaries in Peking, Canton and Shoochow, the chief centers of the jade industry today. The finest jade carvings were made in the imperial ateliers at Peking. Objects of jadeite are common in Mexico, Central America and in the northern part of South America. At the time of the Spanish conquest of Mexico amulets of green stone were highly vener. ated, and it is believed that jadeite was one of the stones prized under the name of chalchihuitl. Chloromelanite may be regarded as a variety of jadeite rich in iron, often containing as much as ten per cent. It is spinach-green or dark green in color and has a specific gravity of 3.4. It occurs in the Cyclops Mountains in New Guinea, where natives make hatchets and agricultural implements from it. Celts made from this mineral were found in the dolmens of France and in certain ancient Swiss lake-dwellings. Jadeite and nephrite have so strong a resemblance to each other that their true identity must be ascertained by microscopic examination and chemical analyses. Their differentiation becomes more difficult when the two substances occur in the same specimen, the nephrite having been formed from the jadeite by a gradual alteration of its chemical and physical constitution. Jade minerals are white when pure, but in nature they are more often variously colored. A partial jade spectrum is given by John Goette in Jade Lore (1937). Their range is from white to black through varying shades of green, yellow and red. Black jade nephrite, which is rare, contains chromic iron. Usually it is of dull color with whitish toned flecking. Red and brown tones in jade are due to inclusions of iron pyrites. Yellow jade, which is also quite rare, often has a light greenish tinge. The shades of green vary from