NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE (QUARTER)	Release Date
December 2009	10 March 2010
March 2010	9 June 2010
June 2010	8 September 2010
September 2010	8 December 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 $5.4m (1.1%) to $485.0m in the September quarter 2009. The current estimate is 26.0% lower than the September quarter 2008 estimate.

The largest contribution to the fall this quarter was in Western Australia (down $10.9m or 4.0%). The largest rise was in Queensland (up $4.9m or 5.9%).

The trend estimate for metres drilled rose 1.0% this quarter. The current estimate is 28.9% lower than the September quarter estimate for last year.


MINERAL EXPLORATION (OTHER THAN FOR PETROLEUM)


EXPLORATION EXPENDITURE

The seasonally adjusted estimate of mineral exploration expenditure rose $53.4m (11.4%) to $521.8m in the September quarter 2009. The largest rises this quarter were in Queensland (up $25.6m or 35.0%) and Western Australia (up $8.5m or 3.2%).

In original terms, mineral exploration expenditure rose $73.9m (15.3%). Queensland had the largest rise of $25.2m (32.1%), followed by Western Australia which rose $24.1m (8.8%).

In original terms, exploration on areas of new deposits rose $19.7m (10.8%), while expenditure on areas of existing deposits rose $54.1m (17.9%).

In original terms, the largest rise by minerals sought came from expenditure on gold exploration (up $34.6m or 35.0%), with the largest rise occurring in New South Wales. The next largest rise came from expenditure on copper exploration (up $19.0m or 105.6%).

MINERAL EXPLORATION (OTHER THAN FOR PETROLEUM)


METRES DRILLED

In seasonally adjusted terms, total metres drilled rose 12.0% in the September quarter 2009. In original terms total metres drilled rose 24.5%. Drilling in areas of new deposits rose 38.0% and drilling in areas of existing deposits rose 18.6%.

PETROLEUM EXPLORATION


OVERVIEW

Expenditure on petroleum exploration for the September quarter 2009 fell $219.7m (21.6%) to $797.7m.

Expenditure on exploration on production leases rose $6.7m (2.2%), while exploration on all other areas fell $226.4m (31.6%) this quarter.

Offshore exploration fell $218.5m (25.2%) in the September quarter 2009, while onshore exploration expenditure fell $1.2m (0.8%).

REGIONAL DATA

In the September quarter 2009, Western Australia had the largest fall in petroleum exploration expenditure of $213.5m (26.1%), followed by Northern Territory with a fall of $40.6m (54.9%). Queensland had the largest rise of $19.2m (25.1%).