Originally found in the Dun Mountain of New Zealand, dunite was given its moniker by the geologist Christian Gottlieb von Hochstetter in 1859. The rock, which readily degrades into serpentine, is a particularly important commercial source of chromium, but may also contain copper, magnesium, and platinum ores. In fact, the desire to mine and transport the large amount of chromium present in the Dun Mountain led to the creation of New Zealand’s first railway system in 1862. Though this railway did not remain in use for long, it is still observed by a large number of people each year who visit the Dun Mountain area to hike along the walking trails that have been established there.