Amorphous silica deposits have been identified at
Tikitere and Taheke near Rotorua. Two areas at Tikitere have been surface
sampled and drilled to establish a resource of amorphous silica in excess of one
million tonnes. A pilot plant was established to develop a process to
manufacture a high quality super pozzolanic material. This development process
took two years before a commercial product was introduced to the construction
industry in 1996. The amorphous silica product, marketed as Microsilica 600, is
used as a pozzolanic material to produce high quality strong and durable
concrete, sprayed tunnel linings, mortars and grouts. Microsilica 600 has been
used locally and exported to 11 countries.