Igneous rocks – Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand
Fine-grained, dense black basalt from the western slopes of the Port Hills has been the dominant stone used in walls, steps and paving of Christchurch buildings since the mid-1860s, when a tramway was built to carry it into the city. ... Simon Nathan and Bruce Hayward, 'Building stone - Igneous rocks', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand ...