Ilmenite is a source of titanium dioxide which is used as an opacifier and a pigment in paint, paper, plastics, cloth and rubber and forms the basis of UV protection creams. Ilmenite black sands are present along the west coastline of the South Island. The largest known ilmenite resource is at Barrytown in Westland, where 50 million tonnes of potentially mineable sand has been defined. An area of Southland which has produced platinum previously is being explored for platinum group metals. There are small deposits of manganese minerals in many localities.
Tin is known from Stewart Island.
Bauxite is present in Northland where reserves of 20 million tonnes have been identified. Cinnabar, the principal ore of mercury, was historically produced in limited quantities from sinter deposits in Northland. Aggregates Aggregates are the product of a variety of rocks, gravels and sands used in road works and construction. Suitable rock for aggregate production is found throughout New Zealand. Its production is dominated by several large companies.