NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE (QUARTER)	Release Date
June 2009	9 September 2009
September 2009	9 December 2009
December 2009	10 March 2010
March 2010	9 June 2010

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 fell $62.5m (10.6%) to $527.7m in the March quarter 2009. The current estimate is 19.3% lower than the March quarter 2008 estimate.

The largest contributions to the fall this quarter were in Western Australia (down $35.4m or 10.8%) and South Australia (down $10.2m or 16.6%).

The trend estimate for metres drilled fell 15.8% this quarter. The current estimate is 30.5% lower than the March quarter estimate for last year.


MINERAL EXPLORATION (OTHER THAN FOR PETROLEUM)


EXPLORATION EXPENDITURE

The seasonally adjusted estimate of mineral exploration expenditure fell $108.3m (17.9%) to $495.9m in the March quarter 2009. The largest falls this quarter were in Western Australia (down $63.4m or 18.7%) and South Australia (down $20.4m or 31.4%).

In original terms, mineral exploration expenditure fell $245.0m (37.8%). Western Australia had the largest fall of $139.8m (38.4%), followed by South Australia which fell $32.0m (47.1%).

In original terms, exploration on areas of new deposits fell $88.9m (37.4%), while expenditure on areas of existing deposits fell $156.2m (38.0%).

In original terms, the largest fall by minerals sought came from expenditure on iron ore exploration (down $76.9m or 42.1%), with the largest fall occurring in Western Australia. The next largest fall came from expenditure on nickel/cobalt exploration (down $37.3m or 47.5%).

MINERAL EXPLORATION (OTHER THAN FOR PETROLEUM)


METRES DRILLED

In seasonally adjusted terms, total metres drilled fell 29.9% in the March quarter 2009. In original terms total metres drilled fell 45.2%. Drilling in areas of new deposits fell 57.3% and drilling in areas of existing deposits fell 38.5%.

PETROLEUM EXPLORATION


OVERVIEW

Expenditure on petroleum exploration for the March quarter 2009 fell $14.8m (1.5%) to $998.6m.

Expenditure on exploration on production leases fell $25.5m (10.9%), while exploration on all other areas rose $10.7m (1.4%) this quarter.

Offshore exploration rose $34.8m (4.0%) in the March quarter 2009, while onshore exploration expenditure fell $49.6m (36.5%).

REGIONAL DATA

In the March quarter 2009, Queensland had the largest fall in petroleum exploration expenditure of $27.8m (31.6%). Northern Territory had the largest rise of $44.6m (152.2%).