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The miners were deemed to have either died directly from the explosion or from acute hypoxia as carbon monoxide levels surged and oxygen levels plummeted to 1% of the underground atmosphere.
Death certificates will be issued to the families of the men.
During the inquest held at Greymouth District Court yesterday, MacLean said he was concentrating on “the what and where and who, and not the why and the whether".
Possible causes of the mining disaster will be covered in the Royal Commission inquiry, which must report to New Zealand’s governor-general by March 31, 2012.
New Zealand’s Department of Labour and police are conducting their own inquiries.
The first explosion struck on Friday, November 19, with two survivors managing to walk out of the mine.
The second explosion on November 24 ended hopes for finding any more survivors.
Damage from subsequent explosions and a fire underground further complicated the recovery effort.
