Contribution of mining to the economy
All modern communities use mineral resources extracted from beneath the ground – New Zealand examples include:
clay for crockery, bricks and tiles
ironsands for the manufacture of steel
oil, gas and coal to provide heat and energy sources for electricity generation
limestone for agricultural fertiliser.
New Zealand is self-sufficient in many mineral resources, and exports substantial amounts of gold, silver, ironsands and high-grade coal. The mining industry contributes to several major sectors of the economy, including agriculture, energy, construction, transport and manufacturing.