Blackhead Quarry
From basalt to ballast, we quarry, crush, and produce premium materials, supporting infrastructure projects across the region.
Quarrying started at Blackhead in the 1950's and is now producing around 250,000 tonnes per year. Products range from general AP materials to high quality M4 roadbases, decorative rock, sealing chips and railway ballast.
Geology
Blackhead is a promontory of black basalt situated on the coast approximately 5km south east of Dunedin City's St Clair Beach. Composed of volcanic basalt it was formed about 10 million years ago during the third eruptive phase of the Dunedin volcanic complex. Columnar jointing on the basalt was formed during this cooling and this produced regular sided columns helping the crushing process.
Environment
Blackhead Quarry has a covenant; put in place in 1990, to protect unique rock formations at sea level. Blackhead has 0.7 hectares of settling ponds for water treatment. Dust is controlled throughout the plant by the use of water sprays and dust deposited at the boundary is monitored monthly.
Quarrying
Rock is won by our internal drill and blast team.
A 50 tonne excavator is used to load rock trucks to transport rock to the primary crusher. A fixed crushing plant processes aggregate into a variety of end use products.
Location
Blackhead Road, Dunedin
-45.929626, 170.431706
Contact
Gareth Turner
021 194 5787
blackhead@bhq.co.nz
