1367.5 - Western Australian Statistical Indicators, Dec 2009  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 28/01/2010   
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Contents >> Mining and energy >> Mineral and Petroleum exploration Expenditure

MINERAL AND PETROLEUM EXPLORATION EXPENDITURE

1 SEPTEMBER KEY FIGURES

Sep 09
Jun Qtr 09 to Sep Qtr 09
Sep Qtr 08 to Sep Qtr 09
Total Minerals Expenditure (a)
$m
% change
% change

Trend estimates
261.8
-4.0
-26.8
Seasonally adjusted estimates
275.8
3.2
-22.4

(a) Excluding petroleum
Source: Mineral and Petroleum Exploration, Australia (cat. no. 8412.0).


  • In seasonally adjusted terms, total expenditure on minerals exploration increased by 3.2% in the September quarter 2009, following a decrease (3.3%) in the previous quarter. In trend terms, there was a decrease of 4% in the September 2009, the fifth consecutive quarterly decrease.
  • Mineral exploration expenditure was down 22% and 27% respectively on the same quarter of the previous year in seasonally adjusted and trend terms.
  • Since December 2006 mineral exploration expenditure has consistently been over $200 million.


  • Original data for Western Australia indicate that exploration expenditure in the September quarter 2009 rose for all minerals except Iron ore. Exploration expenditure for Copper,as well as Silver, lead and zinc, more than doubled while for Gold, it rose by 13%. In all cases, however, the September quarter 2009 figures were substantially lower than the figures for the same quarter of the previous year.
  • Expenditure on iron ore exploration ($134 million) remained steady in the September quarter, equating to almost 45% of the total minerals exploration expenditure in Western Australia.

2 MINERAL AND PETROLEUM EXPENDITURE(a), By selected minerals: Original

Copper
Silver, lead, zinc
Nickel, cobalt
Gold
Iron ore
Total minerals(b)
Total petroleum
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m

2008
September
11.0
13.1
90.3
75.9
153.2
383.8
539.5
2009
June
3.3
2.0
43.3
62.5
134.8
274.8
817.4
September
7.9
4.4
46.1
70.7
134.2
298.9
603.9

(a) Includes expenditure on Western Australia leases in the Zone of Cooperation Area B.
(b) Includes minerals not listed in the table.
Source: Mineral and Petroleum Exploration, Australia (cat. no. 8412.0).
  • Total expenditure on petroleum exploration was $604 million in the September quarter 2009, down 26% from the previous quarter but almost 12% higher than in the September quarter 2008.

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