NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE (QUARTER)	Release Date
September 2013	2 December 2013
December 2013	3 March 2014
March 2014	2 June 2014
June 2014	1 September 2014

CHANGES TO THIS ISSUE

There are no changes to 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)


TOTAL EXPENDITURE

The trend estimate for total mineral exploration expenditure fell 7.8% (or -$57.5m) to $681.0m in the June quarter 2013. The largest contributor to the fall in the trend estimate this quarter was Western Australia (down 7.8% or -$33.9m). The current quarter estimate is 30.0% lower than the June quarter 2012 estimate.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for mineral exploration expenditure fell 20.6% (or -$163.1m) to $630.2m in the June quarter 2013. The largest contributor to the fall this quarter was Western Australia (down 26.2% or -$128.1m).

In original terms, mineral exploration expenditure fell 1.1% (or -$7.6m) to $664.6m in the June quarter 2013. Exploration on areas of new deposits rose 56.4% (or $99.4m) and expenditure on areas of existing deposits fell 21.6% (or -$107.0m).

In original terms, the largest fall by minerals sought came from expenditure on iron ore exploration (down 17.7% or -$44.0m). The largest rise came from expenditure on coal exploration (up 14.5% or $15.2m).

METRES DRILLED

The trend estimate for metres drilled fell 6.3% in the June quarter 2013. The current quarter estimate is 32.8% lower than the June quarter 2012 estimate.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for metres drilled fell 6.0% in the June quarter 2013.

In original terms, metres drilled rose 29.9%. Drilling in areas of new deposits rose 65.9% and drilling in areas of existing deposits rose 16.3%.

PETROLEUM EXPLORATION


TOTAL EXPENDITURE

The trend estimate for total petroleum exploration expenditure fell 3.8% (or -$44.6m) to $1137.3m in the June quarter 2013. Exploration expenditure on production leases rose 2.2% (or $7.5m), while exploration expenditure on all other areas fell 5.9% (or -$49.4m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for total petroleum exploration expenditure rose 11.7% (or $131.6m) to $1258.1m in the June quarter 2013. Exploration expenditure on production leases rose 46.9% (or $123.5m) and exploration expenditure on all other areas rose 0.9% (or $8.1m).

The largest contributor to the fall in the trend estimate was Western Australia (down 4.2% or -$34.7m) and the largest contributor to the rise in the seasonally adjusted estimate was Queensland (up 120.0% or $159.1m).

ONSHORE

The trend estimate for onshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 16.9% (or $62.2m) to $431.0m in the June quarter 2013. Expenditure on drilling rose 5.5% (or $12.4m), while other onshore petroleum exploration expenditure did not change.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for onshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 26.0% (or $93.7m) to $453.6m in the June quarter 2013. Expenditure on drilling rose 41.3% (or $102.5m), while other onshore petroleum exploration fell 7.9% (or -$8.8m).

OFFSHORE

The trend estimate for offshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 6.4% (or -$54.8m) to $796.7m in the June quarter 2013. Expenditure on drilling fell 5.6% (or -$36.6m), while other offshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 9.4% (or -$18.2m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for offshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 4.9% (or $37.9m) to $804.5m in the June quarter 2013. Expenditure on drilling rose 8.2% (or $47.8m), while other offshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 5.4% (or -$9.9m).