Wairakei geothermal area (Craters of the Moon), Wairakei, Taupo District, Waikato Region, New Zealandi

Regional Level Types
Wairakei geothermal area (Craters of the Moon)	Geothermal Field
Wairakei	- not defined -
Taupo District	District
Waikato Region	Region
New Zealand	Country

The Wairakei geothermal field is part of the Wairakei-Tauhara geothermal system and is located 8 km north of Taupo. The boundary between Wairakei and the interconnected Tauhara field is placed at the Waikato River. The Wairakei field is exploited by the Wairakei, Poihipi Road and Wairakei Binary power stations. Initially attention was drawn to the field by extensive surface manifestations including a geyser valley.

The northern section of the field is occupied by geothermal power stations with limited access. The development of the power stations caused the ceasing of geyser activity in the Wairakei Valley, which were once impressive, and an early tourist attraction. However, the same power stations caused the Craters of the Moon section to form to the south.

On the highway, just south of Wairakei is a private venture containing gardens, mineral springs for bathing, and hot spring viewing. Craters of the Moon is at the southern section of the field, being a series of hot springs, mud pools, fumaroles, and hydrothermal eruption craters. The site is community run, and for a small entrance fee, a one hour walk can be taken around the site. Huka Falls is nearby on the Waikato River.

Some reviews online regarding the site are poor (although probably by people with a cursory interest in geology), comparing it to more popular geothermal areas closer to Rotorua. These sites are also up to 7 times more expensive to enter.

So far the Craters of the Moon site has not revealed itself as a specimen location, although collecting is forbidden due to its conservation reserve status.

TL for wairakite. It would appear Wairakite was found from the study of several drill cores, and rock fragments ejected by steam from drill holes, in the northern section of the field, during investigations for the establishment of a geothermal power station in the early 1950's. It was named in 1955 after the location by Alfred Steiner. D.S. Coombs from the University of Otago Dunedin, also had a hand in initially studying it.

Wairakite is a zeolite, with the same structure as analcime, colourless to white, with a vitreous lustre grading to dull. It is found in hydrothermally altered rhyolitic tuffs, ignimbrites, tuffaceous sandstone and breccia at a depth of 440 to 2120 metres. It can occur disseminated within the rock, as drusy subhedral crystals in veinlets or fractures, or massive material filling the fractures. Crystals have also been found up to 15 mms in diameter on a base of calcite and aragonite.

Specimens are relatively uncommon from the type locality, due to the depth of the material. The species has since been found at depth in other geothermal areas within the region, and a relatively large number of other sites worldwide, either as hydrothermal alteration, or in low metamorphic rocks.
Geothermal drill cores 19 and 24 near Lake Taupo.

Other Regions, Features and Areas containing this locality

References