The Waihi landscape was very different 7 million years ago. The land was higher, probably by several hundred metres. Geysers threw boiling, mineral rich water high into the air, mudpools bubbled and hot springs dotted the countryside, very much like Rotorua today. Hot rock far below the ground provided heat energy for those spectacular features and also provided the ingredients for the gold deposit to be formed at Martha Hill. Over time the volcanic activity dwindled as the volcanic 'hot spot' gradually migrated southeast, passing through Tauranga and Te Puke to be centred around Rotorua today.
This volcanic activity provided the conditions and environment for the gold and silver now being mined at Martha.
