Coalgate, Selwyn District, Canterbury Region, New Zealandi

Regional Level Types
Coalgate	- not defined -
Selwyn District	District
Canterbury Region	Region
New Zealand	Country

Coalgate is 50 kilometres west of Christchurch at the base of the Malvern Hills. The area was important economically for Christchurch in the late 19th Century. Apart from the Homebush Mine at Glentunnel, and the Snowdon Mine at Rakaia Gorge, little remains to be seen of the once extensive mining operations in the district.

The area contained 77 coal mines, most small and short lived affairs. Mindat only lists the most substantial. The coal was used for household heating, railways, and brick kilns. It was usually transported by rail into Christchurch, and sold to the general public from several yards in what is now inner Christchurch. A small modern open cast (pit) is operational for coal at the time of writing (2017), about 3 kilometres north-west of Coalgate.

The district was also important for pottery clays, making bricks, tiles, gutters, domestic ware, at a time before plastic, and when glass was expensive. Some of the mines combined coal and clay, with the coal powering their kilns. Both were transported to several large brick yards in Christchurch, with an extensive production of the products mentioned. Gradually customers shifted to more modern materials, the mines closed, and the brick kilns were demolished. A type of clay called bentonite has been mined near Coalgate, and processed in the town since 1967, and is used for a variety of industrial purposes. Despite much clay remaining, little appears to have been done in recent times to develop an artisanal pottery business in the district for tourists.

Minor sand, lime, and building stone mining has also occurred in the area. Fossils and agate are also found in the area, neither very accessible.

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