NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE (QUARTER)	Release Date
December 2011	14 March 2012
March 2012	13 June 2012
June 2012	12 September 2012
September 2012	12 December 2012

CHANGES TO THIS ISSUE

There are no changes in this issue.


INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Mark Busby on Sydney (02) 9268 4533.


SUMMARY COMMENTARY


MINERAL EXPLORATION (OTHER THAN FOR PETROLEUM)


TREND ESTIMATES

The trend estimate for total mineral exploration expenditure rose 6.2% (or $53.8m) to $919.3m in the September quarter 2011. The current quarter estimate is 45.4% higher than the September quarter 2010 estimate.

The largest contribution to the rise in the trend estimate this quarter was in Queensland (up 12.5% or $27.0m) followed by Western Australia (up 3.1% or $13.9m).

The trend estimate for metres drilled rose 4.5% this quarter. The current quarter estimate is 28.7% higher than the September quarter 2010 estimate.


MINERAL EXPLORATION (OTHER THAN FOR PETROLEUM)


EXPLORATION EXPENDITURE

The seasonally adjusted estimate of mineral exploration expenditure rose 6.9% (or $59.8m) to $921.7m in the September quarter 2011. The largest rise this quarter was in Queensland (up 12.5% or $27.7m) followed by Western Australia (up 3.8% or $16.4m).

In original terms, mineral exploration expenditure rose 8.4% (or $76.0m). Western Australia had the largest rise (up 7.1% or $32.0m), followed by Queensland (up 8.3% or $20.2m).

In original terms, exploration on areas of new deposits rose 7.2% (or $21.0m), while expenditure on areas of existing deposits rose 8.9% (or $55.0m).

In original terms, the largest rise by minerals sought came from expenditure on coal exploration (up 12.2% or $24.7m), with the largest rise occurring in New South Wales. The next largest rise came from expenditure on iron ore exploration (up 9.3% or $20.0m).

MINERAL EXPLORATION (OTHER THAN FOR PETROLEUM)


METRES DRILLED

In seasonally adjusted terms, total metres drilled rose 2.0% in the September quarter 2011. In original terms total metres drilled rose 9.8%. Drilling in areas of new deposits rose 6.0% and drilling in areas of existing deposits rose 11.8%.

PETROLEUM EXPLORATION


OVERVIEW

Expenditure on petroleum exploration for the September quarter 2011 fell 8.1% (or -$69.1m) to $780.2m.

Expenditure on exploration on production leases rose 7.3% (or $9.8m) to $144.7m, while exploration on all other areas fell 11.0% (or -$78.9m) to $635.5m this quarter.

Offshore exploration fell 19.8% (or -$131.3m) to $531.6m, while onshore exploration expenditure rose 33.4% (or $62.2m) to $248.6m.


REGIONAL DATA

In the September quarter 2011, the largest fall in petroleum exploration expenditure was in Western Australia (down 23.6% or -$151.1m) followed by South Australia (down 5.8% or -$2.2m). The total fall was offset by rises in Queensland and other confidentialised states.