Opposition to Foulden Maar mine proposal grows

A fossil Galaxias fish from Foulden Maar. Photo credit Jon Lindqvist.

Fossil leaves from Foulden Maar. Photo credit Jennifer Bannister.

A fossil leaf from Foulden Maar. Photo credit Tammo Reichgelt.

A short section of core from the Foulden Maar deposit, showing annual layers (alternating yellowish and dark layers) along with underwater landslide events (thicker dark layers). Photo credit Bethany Fox.

100x magnification of a 23-million-year-old leaf cuticle (Litsea calicarioides) from Foulden Maar, showing stomata (white) and epidermal cells (purple). Photo credit Tammo Reichgelt.

A fossil flower (Fouldenia staminosa) from Foulden Maar. Photo credit Jennifer Bannister.

Getz Ice Shelf on the Antarctic coast Credit: NASA/Dick Ewers

Resistance to a proposed mine next to a fossil rich geological site of international significance near Middlemarch is growing.

Foulden Maar is a 23-million-year-old crater lake containing large deposits of diatomite.

The majority Malaysian-owned company Plaman Resources wants to turn that into stock feed.

The Overseas Investment Office is currently considering the application to buy a neighbouring farm which would allow the expansion to go ahead.

In the latest twist, Dunedin's mayor, Dave Cull, now says he wants an urgent explanation from the company as its official statements don't match the information contained in a report from Goldman Sachs, which was leaked to the Otago Daily Times.

This after he originally wrote a letter of support for Plaman Resources' application to the Overseas Investment Office. Meanwhile local and international opposition to the mine has been growing including locals, concerned scientists and former Prime Minister Helen Clark.

Otago University Palentologist  Daphne Lee and Middlemarch resident Andrea Bosshard from Save Foulden Marr.