Dun Mountain facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dun Mountain |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 1,129 m (3,704 ft) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Nelson, New Zealand |
Dun Mountain is a mountain located in the Richmond Range near the city of Nelson. It is found in the Tasman District on New Zealand's South Island. This mountain is special because of its unique color and history.
Discovering Dun Mountain
Dun Mountain gets its name from its brown, or "dun," color. This color comes from a special type of rock called ultramafic rock. This rock makes the mountain look brownish.
What Makes Dun Mountain Special?
The ultramafic rock on Dun Mountain formed deep inside the Earth's mantle. This happened a very long time ago, during the Permian period. Today, this rock is part of a larger area known as the Dun Mountain Ophiolite Belt.
The soil on Dun Mountain has a lot of heavy metals from this rock. This makes it hard for many plants to grow tall and strong. Because of this, the plants often look stunted or smaller than usual.
In 1859, a new type of rock was first found on Dun Mountain. It was named dunite after the mountain itself. This shows how important Dun Mountain is for geology, which is the study of Earth's rocks and how they are formed.
Mining History and New Zealand's First Railway
Dun Mountain has an interesting history with mining. Between 1850 and 1865, people mined small amounts of minerals like chromite and copper there. These minerals were valuable and used for different things.
To help move these mined materials, New Zealand's very first railway was built. This railway, called the Dun Mountain Railway, was a big step for the country. It helped transport the minerals from the mountain down to the city.
