The ABS will be closed from 12.00pm, 24 December 2024 and will reopen at 9.00am, 2 January 2025. During this time there will be no statistical releases and our support functions will be unavailable. The ABS wishes you a safe and happy Christmas.

Mineral and Petroleum Exploration, Australia

This is not the latest release View the latest release

Quarterly statistics on mineral and petroleum exploration expenditure by private organisations in Australia

Reference period

December 2021

Released

28/02/2022

View all releases

Mineral exploration

Total expenditure, seasonally adjusted

Fall of 1.4% ($13.3m) to $921.5m

Mineral exploration, seasonally adjusted
	Seasonally adjusted ($m)
Dec 2013	516.4
Mar 2014	483.4
Jun 2014	499.6
Sep 2014	428.8
Dec 2014	431.1
Mar 2015	375.9
Jun 2015	335.9
Sep 2015	368.0
Dec 2015	358.8
Mar 2016	344.1
Jun 2016	344.7
Sep 2016	355.2
Dec 2016	379.3
Mar 2017	392.8
Jun 2017	432.5
Sep 2017	445.7
Dec 2017	469.7
Mar 2018	512.7
Jun 2018	552.2
Sep 2018	550.3
Dec 2018	565.0
Mar 2019	584.7
Jun 2019	646.2
Sep 2019	681.9
Dec 2019	722.9
Mar 2020	704.5
Jun 2020	665.1
Sep 2020	698.8
Dec 2020	743.1
Mar 2021	843.5
Jun 2021	888.6
Sep 2021	934.8
Dec 2021	921.5

Mineral exploration, seasonally adjusted

["","Seasonally adjusted"]

[["Dec 2013","Mar 2014","Jun 2014","Sep 2014","Dec 2014","Mar 2015","Jun 2015","Sep 2015","Dec 2015","Mar 2016","Jun 2016","Sep 2016","Dec 2016","Mar 2017","Jun 2017","Sep 2017","Dec 2017","Mar 2018","Jun 2018","Sep 2018","Dec 2018","Mar 2019","Jun 2019","Sep 2019","Dec 2019","Mar 2020","Jun 2020","Sep 2020","Dec 2020","Mar 2021","Jun 2021","Sep 2021","Dec 2021"],[[516.39999999999998],[483.39999999999998],[499.60000000000002],[428.80000000000001],[431.10000000000002],[375.89999999999998],[335.89999999999998],[368],[358.80000000000001],[344.10000000000002],[344.69999999999999],[355.19999999999999],[379.30000000000001],[392.80000000000001],[432.5],[445.69999999999999],[469.69999999999999],[512.70000000000005],[552.20000000000005],[550.29999999999995],[565],[584.70000000000005],[646.20000000000005],[681.89999999999998],[722.89999999999998],[704.5],[665.10000000000002],[698.79999999999995],[743.10000000000002],[843.5],[888.60000000000002],[934.79999999999995],[921.5]]]

[]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"8","axis_min":"","axis_max":"","axis_title":"","precision":-1,"axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"200","axis_min":"0","axis_max":"1200","axis_title":"$m","precision":"1","table_units":"($m)","tooltip_units":"(m)","axis_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"$","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

Mineral exploration, original series

Fall of 4.4% ($44.3m) to $953.3m
Existing deposits fell 1.8% ($11.9m) to $647.4m
New deposits fell 9.6% ($32.4m) to $305.9m
Iron Ore recorded the largest fall (down 25.0%, $43.7m) to $130.9m

Mineral exploration, original series
	Selected base metals total	Gold	Iron Ore	Coal	All Other
Dec 2013	75.0	116.5	184.2	106.4	65.2
Mar 2014	63.0	81.7	115.2	101.8	45.9
Jun 2014	78.4	103.9	189.0	80.9	62.3
Sep 2014	81.7	90.0	142.9	80.3	60.3
Dec 2014	80.1	101.7	145.1	78.0	54.3
Mar 2015	59.2	91.6	82.5	43.4	40.6
Jun 2015	58.0	112.4	77.2	50.1	47.0
Sep 2015	61.4	133.7	82.2	56.3	60.2
Dec 2015	58.2	138.2	74.5	63.4	47.1
Mar 2016	56.6	119.3	57.7	23.4	32.8
Jun 2016	54.8	156.9	76.8	30.3	35.1
Sep 2016	59.0	159.1	79.8	37.2	44.3
Dec 2016	63.4	182.3	73.7	33.3	48.8
Mar 2017	54.4	155.2	53.5	23.9	47.6
Jun 2017	94.1	192.6	84.3	26.0	47.9
Sep 2017	111.7	192.9	83.8	35.1	51.6
Dec 2017	120.6	208.9	68.9	39.0	57.9
Mar 2018	110.8	187.4	50.1	36.4	53.9
Jun 2018	153.1	220.9	89.0	43.6	61.1
Sep 2018	146.2	239.7	86.3	43.6	69.5
Dec 2018	157.9	244.1	75.5	50.0	65.1
Mar 2019	128.1	223.0	67.4	36.0	50.0
Jun 2019	188.6	259.8	94.8	52.5	69.2
Sep 2019	208.7	281.3	102.8	63.2	68.9
Dec 2019	199.5	303.9	84.6	77.6	87.5
Mar 2020	139.5	272.3	75.2	75.1	48.4
Jun 2020	133.5	304.4	98.7	87.2	59.6
Sep 2020	137.8	356.1	111.0	73.1	66.8
Dec 2020	155.7	383.5	110.2	56.2	64.4
Mar 2021	161.8	360.2	101.2	50.8	60.9
Jun 2021	195.8	429.8	150.8	54.9	80.7
Sep 2021	236.8	417.9	174.6	66.5	101.8
Dec 2021	265.4	393.1	130.9	53.2	110.7

Mineral exploration, original series

["","Selected base metals total","Gold","Iron Ore","Coal","All Other"]

[["Dec 2013","Mar 2014","Jun 2014","Sep 2014","Dec 2014","Mar 2015","Jun 2015","Sep 2015","Dec 2015","Mar 2016","Jun 2016","Sep 2016","Dec 2016","Mar 2017","Jun 2017","Sep 2017","Dec 2017","Mar 2018","Jun 2018","Sep 2018","Dec 2018","Mar 2019","Jun 2019","Sep 2019","Dec 2019","Mar 2020","Jun 2020","Sep 2020","Dec 2020","Mar 2021","Jun 2021","Sep 2021","Dec 2021"],[[75],[63],[78.400000000000006],[81.700000000000003],[80.099999999999994],[59.200000000000003],[58],[61.399999999999999],[58.200000000000003],[56.600000000000001],[54.799999999999997],[59],[63.399999999999999],[54.399999999999999],[94.099999999999994],[111.7],[120.59999999999999],[110.8],[153.09999999999999],[146.19999999999999],[157.90000000000001],[128.09999999999999],[188.59999999999999],[208.69999999999999],[199.5],[139.5],[133.5],[137.80000000000001],[155.69999999999999],[161.80000000000001],[195.80000000000001],[236.80000000000001],[265.39999999999998]],[[116.5],[81.700000000000003],[103.90000000000001],[90],[101.7],[91.599999999999994],[112.40000000000001],[133.69999999999999],[138.19999999999999],[119.3],[156.90000000000001],[159.09999999999999],[182.30000000000001],[155.19999999999999],[192.59999999999999],[192.90000000000001],[208.90000000000001],[187.40000000000001],[220.90000000000001],[239.69999999999999],[244.09999999999999],[223],[259.80000000000001],[281.30000000000001],[303.89999999999998],[272.30000000000001],[304.39999999999998],[356.10000000000002],[383.5],[360.19999999999999],[429.80000000000001],[417.89999999999998],[393.10000000000002]],[[184.19999999999999],[115.2],[189],[142.90000000000001],[145.09999999999999],[82.5],[77.200000000000003],[82.200000000000003],[74.5],[57.700000000000003],[76.799999999999997],[79.799999999999997],[73.700000000000003],[53.5],[84.299999999999997],[83.799999999999997],[68.900000000000006],[50.100000000000001],[89],[86.299999999999997],[75.5],[67.400000000000006],[94.799999999999997],[102.8],[84.599999999999994],[75.200000000000003],[98.700000000000003],[111],[110.2],[101.2],[150.80000000000001],[174.59999999999999],[130.90000000000001]],[[106.40000000000001],[101.8],[80.900000000000006],[80.299999999999997],[78],[43.399999999999999],[50.100000000000001],[56.299999999999997],[63.399999999999999],[23.399999999999999],[30.300000000000001],[37.200000000000003],[33.299999999999997],[23.899999999999999],[26],[35.100000000000001],[39],[36.399999999999999],[43.600000000000001],[43.600000000000001],[50],[36],[52.5],[63.200000000000003],[77.599999999999994],[75.099999999999994],[87.200000000000003],[73.099999999999994],[56.200000000000003],[50.799999999999997],[54.899999999999999],[66.5],[53.200000000000003]],[[65.200000000000003],[45.899999999999999],[62.299999999999997],[60.299999999999997],[54.299999999999997],[40.600000000000001],[47],[60.200000000000003],[47.100000000000001],[32.799999999999997],[35.100000000000001],[44.299999999999997],[48.799999999999997],[47.600000000000001],[47.899999999999999],[51.600000000000001],[57.899999999999999],[53.899999999999999],[61.100000000000001],[69.5],[65.099999999999994],[50],[69.200000000000003],[68.900000000000006],[87.5],[48.399999999999999],[59.600000000000001],[66.799999999999997],[64.400000000000006],[60.899999999999999],[80.700000000000003],[101.8],[110.7]]]

[]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"8","axis_min":"","axis_max":"","axis_title":"","precision":-1,"axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

[{"value":"0","axis_id":"0","axis_title":"$m","axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","axis_min":"0","axis_max":"450","tick_interval":"100","precision":"1","data_unit_prefix":"$","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

Metres drilled, seasonally adjusted

Fall of 5.4% (181m) to 3,154m

Metres drilled, seasonally adjusted
	Seasonally adjusted ('000)
Dec 2013	1,707.2
Mar 2014	1,457
Jun 2014	1,549.3
Sep 2014	1,544.4
Dec 2014	1,557.9
Mar 2015	1,440
Jun 2015	1,407
Sep 2015	1,463
Dec 2015	1,626.7
Mar 2016	1,627.3
Jun 2016	1,644.4
Sep 2016	1,672.6
Dec 2016	1,789
Mar 2017	1,964.6
Jun 2017	2,119.5
Sep 2017	2,129.9
Dec 2017	2,128.3
Mar 2018	2,255
Jun 2018	2,482
Sep 2018	2,601.6
Dec 2018	2,458.5
Mar 2019	2,659
Jun 2019	2,505.9
Sep 2019	2,564.4
Dec 2019	2,691.2
Mar 2020	2,675.4
Jun 2020	2,346.1
Sep 2020	2,731.2
Dec 2020	2,971.1
Mar 2021	3,296
Jun 2021	3,439.4
Sep 2021	3,334.8
Dec 2021	3,154.1

Metres drilled, seasonally adjusted

["","Seasonally adjusted"]

[["Dec 2013","Mar 2014","Jun 2014","Sep 2014","Dec 2014","Mar 2015","Jun 2015","Sep 2015","Dec 2015","Mar 2016","Jun 2016","Sep 2016","Dec 2016","Mar 2017","Jun 2017","Sep 2017","Dec 2017","Mar 2018","Jun 2018","Sep 2018","Dec 2018","Mar 2019","Jun 2019","Sep 2019","Dec 2019","Mar 2020","Jun 2020","Sep 2020","Dec 2020","Mar 2021","Jun 2021","Sep 2021","Dec 2021"],[[1707.2],[1457],[1549.3],[1544.4000000000001],[1557.9000000000001],[1440],[1407],[1463],[1626.7],[1627.3],[1644.4000000000001],[1672.5999999999999],[1789],[1964.5999999999999],[2119.5],[2129.9000000000001],[2128.3000000000002],[2255],[2482],[2601.5999999999999],[2458.5],[2659],[2505.9000000000001],[2564.4000000000001],[2691.1999999999998],[2675.4000000000001],[2346.0999999999999],[2731.1999999999998],[2971.0999999999999],[3296],[3439.4000000000001],[3334.8000000000002],[3154.0999999999999]]]

[]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"8","axis_min":"","axis_max":"","axis_title":"","precision":-1,"axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"1000","axis_min":"0","axis_max":"4000","axis_title":"'000","precision":"","table_units":"('000)","tooltip_units":"('000)","axis_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

Metres drilled, original series

Fall of 12.5% (451m) to 3,172m
New deposits fell 17.0% (198m) to 963m
Existing deposits fell 10.3% (254m) to 2,209m

Metres drilled, original series
	Total deposits	New deposits	Existing deposits
Dec 2013	1,764.1	396.1	1,368.1
Mar 2014	1,148.1	300.0	848.1
Jun 2014	1,694.8	308.8	1,386.0
Sep 2014	1,669.0	397.2	1,271.8
Dec 2014	1,613.1	491.9	1,121.2
Mar 2015	1,140.7	242.1	898.6
Jun 2015	1,540.2	438.1	1,103.3
Sep 2015	1,573.5	341.1	1,232.7
Dec 2015	1,682.3	442.4	1,240.2
Mar 2016	1,301.3	306.6	994.8
Jun 2016	1,794.6	418.2	1,376.4
Sep 2016	1,796.9	539.1	1,257.9
Dec 2016	1,842.6	658.7	1,183.9
Mar 2017	1,591.2	484.0	1,117.5
Jun 2017	2,298.7	682.6	1,616.2
Sep 2017	2,294.0	841.6	1,452.4
Dec 2017	2,175.9	766.1	1,409.8
Mar 2018	1,853.6	631.7	1,221.9
Jun 2018	2,672.8	971.8	1,701.0
Sep 2018	2,811.6	1,041.7	1,778.6
Dec 2018	2,494.5	949.3	1,545.2
Mar 2019	2,215.8	755.4	1,460.4
Jun 2019	2,679.7	923.8	1,755.9
Sep 2019	2,780.3	1,115.8	1,664.5
Dec 2019	2,715.2	917.2	1,798.0
Mar 2020	2,252.7	805.7	1,447.0
Jun 2020	2,495.4	850.6	1,644.8
Sep 2020	2,964.8	1,048.5	1,916.3
Dec 2020	2,990.2	1,031.7	1,958.4
Mar 2021	2,793.8	878.4	1,915.4
Jun 2021	3,644.0	1,107.4	2,536.5
Sep 2021	3,622.6	1,160.3	2,462.3
Dec 2021	3,171.5	962.7	2,208.8

Metres drilled, original series

["","Total deposits","New deposits","Existing deposits"]

[["Dec 2013","Mar 2014","Jun 2014","Sep 2014","Dec 2014","Mar 2015","Jun 2015","Sep 2015","Dec 2015","Mar 2016","Jun 2016","Sep 2016","Dec 2016","Mar 2017","Jun 2017","Sep 2017","Dec 2017","Mar 2018","Jun 2018","Sep 2018","Dec 2018","Mar 2019","Jun 2019","Sep 2019","Dec 2019","Mar 2020","Jun 2020","Sep 2020","Dec 2020","Mar 2021","Jun 2021","Sep 2021","Dec 2021"],[[1764.0999999999999],[1148.0999999999999],[1694.8],[1669],[1613.0999999999999],[1140.7],[1540.2],[1573.5],[1682.3],[1301.3],[1794.5999999999999],[1796.9000000000001],[1842.5999999999999],[1591.2],[2298.6999999999998],[2294],[2175.9000000000001],[1853.5999999999999],[2672.8000000000002],[2811.5999999999999],[2494.5],[2215.8000000000002],[2679.6999999999998],[2780.3000000000002],[2715.1999999999998],[2252.6999999999998],[2495.4000000000001],[2964.8000000000002],[2990.1999999999998],[2793.8000000000002],[3644],[3622.5999999999999],[3171.5]],[[396.10000000000002],[300],[308.80000000000001],[397.19999999999999],[491.89999999999998],[242.09999999999999],[438.10000000000002],[341.10000000000002],[442.39999999999998],[306.60000000000002],[418.19999999999999],[539.10000000000002],[658.70000000000005],[484],[682.60000000000002],[841.60000000000002],[766.10000000000002],[631.70000000000005],[971.79999999999995],[1041.7],[949.29999999999995],[755.39999999999998],[923.79999999999995],[1115.8],[917.20000000000005],[805.70000000000005],[850.60000000000002],[1048.5],[1031.7],[878.39999999999998],[1107.4000000000001],[1160.3],[962.70000000000005]],[[1368.0999999999999],[848.10000000000002],[1386],[1271.8],[1121.2],[898.60000000000002],[1103.3],[1232.7],[1240.2],[994.79999999999995],[1376.4000000000001],[1257.9000000000001],[1183.9000000000001],[1117.5],[1616.2],[1452.4000000000001],[1409.8],[1221.9000000000001],[1701],[1778.5999999999999],[1545.2],[1460.4000000000001],[1755.9000000000001],[1664.5],[1798],[1447],[1644.8],[1916.3],[1958.4000000000001],[1915.4000000000001],[2536.5],[2462.3000000000002],[2208.8000000000002]]]

[]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"8","axis_min":"","axis_max":"","axis_title":"","precision":-1,"axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

[{"value":"0","axis_id":"0","axis_title":"'000","axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"('000)","table_units":"","axis_min":"0","axis_max":"4000","tick_interval":"500","precision":"1","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

Petroleum exploration

Total expenditure, seasonally adjusted

Rise of 8.3% ($24.2m) to $314.1m
All other areas rose 13.4% ($24.2m) to $204.6m
Production lease areas remained flat 0.0% ($0.0m) at $109.5m.

Petroleum exploration, seasonally adjusted
	Seasonally adjusted ($m)
Dec 2013	1,044.9
Mar 2014	1,125.2
Jun 2014	1,537.3
Sep 2014	977.4
Dec 2014	1,100.7
Mar 2015	1,012.8
Jun 2015	698.8
Sep 2015	575.3
Dec 2015	460.9
Mar 2016	460.8
Jun 2016	280.1
Sep 2016	347.8
Dec 2016	318
Mar 2017	394.3
Jun 2017	322.9
Sep 2017	276.8
Dec 2017	229.4
Mar 2018	217.6
Jun 2018	296.8
Sep 2018	299.8
Dec 2018	324.1
Mar 2019	278.8
Jun 2019	346.4
Sep 2019	362
Dec 2019	374.9
Mar 2020	313.6
Jun 2020	215.2
Sep 2020	219.3
Dec 2020	261.4
Mar 2021	269.1
Jun 2021	253.6
Sep 2021	289.9
Dec 2021	314.1

Petroleum exploration, seasonally adjusted

["","Seasonally adjusted"]

[["Dec 2013","Mar 2014","Jun 2014","Sep 2014","Dec 2014","Mar 2015","Jun 2015","Sep 2015","Dec 2015","Mar 2016","Jun 2016","Sep 2016","Dec 2016","Mar 2017","Jun 2017","Sep 2017","Dec 2017","Mar 2018","Jun 2018","Sep 2018","Dec 2018","Mar 2019","Jun 2019","Sep 2019","Dec 2019","Mar 2020","Jun 2020","Sep 2020","Dec 2020","Mar 2021","Jun 2021","Sep 2021","Dec 2021"],[[1044.9000000000001],[1125.2],[1537.3],[977.39999999999998],[1100.7],[1012.8],[698.79999999999995],[575.29999999999995],[460.89999999999998],[460.80000000000001],[280.10000000000002],[347.80000000000001],[318],[394.30000000000001],[322.89999999999998],[276.80000000000001],[229.40000000000001],[217.59999999999999],[296.80000000000001],[299.80000000000001],[324.10000000000002],[278.80000000000001],[346.39999999999998],[362],[374.89999999999998],[313.60000000000002],[215.19999999999999],[219.30000000000001],[261.39999999999998],[269.10000000000002],[253.59999999999999],[289.89999999999998],[314.10000000000002]]]

[]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"8","axis_min":"","axis_max":"","axis_title":"","precision":-1,"axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"200","axis_min":"0","axis_max":"1600","axis_title":"$m","precision":"","table_units":"($m)","tooltip_units":"(m)","axis_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"$","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

Onshore, seasonally adjusted

Rose 6.0% ($11.4m) to $201.3m

Petroleum exploration - onshore, seasonally adjusted
	Seasonally adjusted ($m)
Dec 2013	261.1
Mar 2014	303.2
Jun 2014	450
Sep 2014	297.3
Dec 2014	376.8
Mar 2015	305.5
Jun 2015	260.5
Sep 2015	199.4
Dec 2015	138.2
Mar 2016	87.3
Jun 2016	64.3
Sep 2016	96.5
Dec 2016	73.4
Mar 2017	148.9
Jun 2017	116
Sep 2017	91.8
Dec 2017	76.2
Mar 2018	87.1
Jun 2018	94.9
Sep 2018	98.6
Dec 2018	115.3
Mar 2019	111.3
Jun 2019	113.6
Sep 2019	144.9
Dec 2019	216.1
Mar 2020	164.7
Jun 2020	146.5
Sep 2020	149.8
Dec 2020	141.9
Mar 2021	167.3
Jun 2021	167.3
Sep 2021	189.9
Dec 2021	201.3

Petroleum exploration - onshore, seasonally adjusted

["","Seasonally adjusted"]

[["Dec 2013","Mar 2014","Jun 2014","Sep 2014","Dec 2014","Mar 2015","Jun 2015","Sep 2015","Dec 2015","Mar 2016","Jun 2016","Sep 2016","Dec 2016","Mar 2017","Jun 2017","Sep 2017","Dec 2017","Mar 2018","Jun 2018","Sep 2018","Dec 2018","Mar 2019","Jun 2019","Sep 2019","Dec 2019","Mar 2020","Jun 2020","Sep 2020","Dec 2020","Mar 2021","Jun 2021","Sep 2021","Dec 2021"],[[261.10000000000002],[303.19999999999999],[450],[297.30000000000001],[376.80000000000001],[305.5],[260.5],[199.40000000000001],[138.19999999999999],[87.299999999999997],[64.299999999999997],[96.5],[73.400000000000006],[148.90000000000001],[116],[91.799999999999997],[76.200000000000003],[87.099999999999994],[94.900000000000006],[98.599999999999994],[115.3],[111.3],[113.59999999999999],[144.90000000000001],[216.09999999999999],[164.69999999999999],[146.5],[149.80000000000001],[141.90000000000001],[167.30000000000001],[167.30000000000001],[189.90000000000001],[201.30000000000001]]]

[]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"8","axis_min":"","axis_max":"","axis_title":"","precision":-1,"axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"100","axis_min":"0","axis_max":"500","axis_title":"$m","precision":"","table_units":"($m)","tooltip_units":"(m)","axis_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"$","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

Offshore, seasonally adjusted

Rose 12.7% ($12.7m) to $112.7m

Petroleum exploration - offshore, seasonally adjusted
	Seasonally adjusted ($m)
Dec 2013	783.8
Mar 2014	822
Jun 2014	1,087.3
Sep 2014	680.2
Dec 2014	723.8
Mar 2015	707.3
Jun 2015	438.3
Sep 2015	375.9
Dec 2015	322.7
Mar 2016	373.5
Jun 2016	215.8
Sep 2016	251.3
Dec 2016	244.6
Mar 2017	245.4
Jun 2017	206.9
Sep 2017	185
Dec 2017	153.2
Mar 2018	130.5
Jun 2018	202
Sep 2018	201.2
Dec 2018	208.8
Mar 2019	167.5
Jun 2019	232.8
Sep 2019	217.1
Dec 2019	158.8
Mar 2020	148.9
Jun 2020	68.7
Sep 2020	69.5
Dec 2020	119.5
Mar 2021	101.8
Jun 2021	86.4
Sep 2021	100
Dec 2021	112.7

Petroleum exploration - offshore, seasonally adjusted

["","Seasonally adjusted"]

[["Dec 2013","Mar 2014","Jun 2014","Sep 2014","Dec 2014","Mar 2015","Jun 2015","Sep 2015","Dec 2015","Mar 2016","Jun 2016","Sep 2016","Dec 2016","Mar 2017","Jun 2017","Sep 2017","Dec 2017","Mar 2018","Jun 2018","Sep 2018","Dec 2018","Mar 2019","Jun 2019","Sep 2019","Dec 2019","Mar 2020","Jun 2020","Sep 2020","Dec 2020","Mar 2021","Jun 2021","Sep 2021","Dec 2021"],[[783.79999999999995],[822],[1087.3],[680.20000000000005],[723.79999999999995],[707.29999999999995],[438.30000000000001],[375.89999999999998],[322.69999999999999],[373.5],[215.80000000000001],[251.30000000000001],[244.59999999999999],[245.40000000000001],[206.90000000000001],[185],[153.19999999999999],[130.5],[202],[201.19999999999999],[208.80000000000001],[167.5],[232.80000000000001],[217.09999999999999],[158.80000000000001],[148.90000000000001],[68.700000000000003],[69.5],[119.5],[101.8],[86.400000000000006],[100],[112.7]]]

[]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"8","axis_min":"","axis_max":"","axis_title":"","precision":-1,"axis_units":"","tooltip_units":"","table_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"250","axis_min":"0","axis_max":"1250","axis_title":"$m","precision":"","table_units":"($m)","tooltip_units":"(m)","axis_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"$","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

Release notes

Suspension of trend series

The trend series attempts to measure underlying behaviour in exploration expenditure and metres drilled. Due to Covid-19, in the short term this measurement will be significantly affected by changes to regular patterns. If the trend estimates in this publication were to be calculated without fully accounting for this irregular event, they would likely provide a misleading view of underlying exploration expenditure and metres drilled.

It may be some time before the underlying trend in exploration expenditure and metres drilled can be accurately estimated. The exploration expenditure and metres drilled trend series has therefore been suspended from March quarter 2020 onwards. The trend series will be reinstated when more certainty emerges in the underlying trend.

Data downloads

Download all (770.05 KB)

Time series spreadsheets

Data files

Table 1. Private exploration, actual and expected expenditure
Download xlsx [51.32 KB]
Table 2. Mineral exploration, (other than for petroleum) - expenditure and metres drilled
Download xlsx [58.48 KB]
Table 3b. Mineral exploration, (other than for petroleum) - expenditure by type of deposit
Download xlsx [67.55 KB]
Table 4. Mineral exploration, (other than for petroleum) - expenditure by state and territory
Download xlsx [74.94 KB]
Table 5. Mineral exploration, (other than for petroleum) - expenditure by mineral sought
Download xlsx [286.32 KB]
Table 6a. Petroleum exploration, expenditure by onshore and offshore
Download xlsx [79.64 KB]
Table 6b. Petroleum exploration, expenditure by type of lease
Download xlsx [70.45 KB]
Table 7. Petroleum exploration, expenditure by state and territory
Download xlsx [157.47 KB]

Data Explorer datasets

The data available in Data Explorer is similar to ABS.Stat but with a new interface and added functionality. For more information about Data Explorer and to see what has changed, see the Data Explorer user guide.

Caution: Data in Data Explorer is currently released after the 11:30am release on the ABS website. Please check the reference period when using Data Explorer.

Mineral Exploration - Quarterly mineral exploration expenditure and metres drilled

Petroleum Exploration - Quarterly petroleum expenditure

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 8412.0.

Methodology

Mineral and Petroleum Exploration, Australia methodology, December 2021

Do you need more detailed statistics?

Request data

We can provide customised data to meet your requirements

Request a quote

Microdata and TableBuilder

We can provide access to detailed, customisable data on selected topics

View available Microdata and TableBuilder

APA

Citation

Mineral and Petroleum Exploration, Australia

APA

Citation

Mineral exploration

Total expenditure, seasonally adjusted

Mineral exploration, original series

Metres drilled, seasonally adjusted

Metres drilled, original series

Petroleum exploration

Total expenditure, seasonally adjusted

Onshore, seasonally adjusted

Offshore, seasonally adjusted

Release notes

Suspension of trend series

Data downloads

Time series spreadsheets

Table 1. Private exploration, actual and expected expenditure

Table 2. Mineral exploration, (other than for petroleum) - expenditure and metres drilled

Table 3b. Mineral exploration, (other than for petroleum) - expenditure by type of deposit

Table 4. Mineral exploration, (other than for petroleum) - expenditure by state and territory

Table 5. Mineral exploration, (other than for petroleum) - expenditure by mineral sought

Table 6a. Petroleum exploration, expenditure by onshore and offshore

Table 6b. Petroleum exploration, expenditure by type of lease

Table 7. Petroleum exploration, expenditure by state and territory

Data Explorer datasets

Previous catalogue number

Methodology

Do you need more detailed statistics?

Request data

Microdata and TableBuilder

Provide feedback