There's gold in that there superphosphate - Clarendon Gold. That's the belief of Ravensdown as it launches what it claims is the first New Zealand fertiliser featuring "local phosphate rock" in 70 years.
The company released in Otago and Southland this week a new blend using phosphate rock from the Clarendondeposit at Milton, south of Dunedin.
Clarendon was last mined during World War II and for the past 18 months Ravensdown has been investigating the quality and quantity of the phosphate rock, which it has used in trials of a manufactured superphosphate blend.
A trial was completed at the beginning of the year before going to mainstream production, says works manager Tony Gray.
Clarendon farmer Tony McDonnell brought the resource to Ravensdown's attention in 2009 and the co-operative has worked closely with him and neighbours including Blackhead Quarries.
"I'm tickled that phosphate rock from my farm is being used by Ravensdown," he says. "It's great to have our own phosphate instead of having to import it."
