Cavendish Lime Pit - Mt Somers

Now on private Property and has been filled with water

The closed Cavendish Limestone Quarry (at Blands Bluff) was visited before it was filled with water.

This quarry is of Waitakian Stage – late Oligocene (26 – 30million years ago). The ORMC explored the area – and although not many complete fossils were found some interesting finds were made.

Fossils and other material may still be able to be collected from the higher faces and from the hill behind the disused quarry - although resource consent processes are being worked through to start mining this area once again.

This site was once a great fossil collecting location and was famous for its abundance of fossil sharks teeth. (This trip only yielded one rather 'rotten' tooth)

Shell and shark tooth specimens can be found in a cabinet at the local hotel at Mt Somers.

Behind the quarry the natural beauty of the surrounding area remains largely untouched. On exploring this area I came across a pathway and old staircase. This stair case lead to a viewing platform from which one could see the Lincoln Hills Station, and the adjoining Inverary Station to the north and west.

Before the staircase is a small track leading to a cave, this cave was about 3m by 2m, one could walk in around 10m before the cave narrowed and there was i assumed, a steep drop, having no torch and no camera I was unable to see what lay ahead.

Oh by the way this is the area famous for that big black cat the ‘Mt Somers Black Panther’ so watch out!