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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

June 2021

Released

30/08/2021

View all releases

Mineral exploration

Total expenditure, seasonally adjusted

Rise of 3.7% (+$31.3m) to $878.3m

Mineral exploration, seasonally adjusted
	Seasonally adjusted ($m)
Jun 2013	638.9
Sep 2013	604.1
Dec 2013	516.6
Mar 2014	482.9
Jun 2014	499.7
Sep 2014	428.8
Dec 2014	431.4
Mar 2015	375.5
Jun 2015	335.9
Sep 2015	368.0
Dec 2015	359.0
Mar 2016	343.6
Jun 2016	344.7
Sep 2016	355.2
Dec 2016	379.8
Mar 2017	392.5
Jun 2017	431.9
Sep 2017	446.0
Dec 2017	470.3
Mar 2018	512.4
Jun 2018	550.2
Sep 2018	551.9
Dec 2018	565.2
Mar 2019	585.5
Jun 2019	641.7
Sep 2019	686.2
Dec 2019	722.0
Mar 2020	706.1
Jun 2020	658.7
Sep 2020	705.5
Dec 2020	741.0
Mar 2021	847.0
Jun 2021	878.3

Mineral exploration, seasonally adjusted

["","Seasonally adjusted"]

[["Jun 2013","Sep 2013","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"],[[638.89999999999998],[604.10000000000002],[516.60000000000002],[482.89999999999998],[499.69999999999999],[428.80000000000001],[431.39999999999998],[375.5],[335.89999999999998],[368],[359],[343.60000000000002],[344.69999999999999],[355.19999999999999],[379.80000000000001],[392.5],[431.89999999999998],[446],[470.30000000000001],[512.39999999999998],[550.20000000000005],[551.89999999999998],[565.20000000000005],[585.5],[641.70000000000005],[686.20000000000005],[722],[706.10000000000002],[658.70000000000005],[705.5],[741],[847],[878.29999999999995]]]

[]

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[{"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

Rise of 24.1% (+$177.2m) to $912.0m
Existing deposits rose 24.7% (+$119.0m) to $601.5m
New deposits rose 23.1% (+$58.2m) to $310.5m
Gold recorded the largest rise (up 19.3%, +$69.6m) to $429.8m

Mineral exploration, original series
	Selected base metals total	Gold	Iron Ore	Coal	All Other
Jun 2013	124.7	150.0	204.2	119.7	66.1
Sep 2013	105.5	132.2	222.2	109.6	69.0
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

Mineral exploration, original series

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

[["Jun 2013","Sep 2013","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"],[[124.7],[105.5],[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]],[[150],[132.19999999999999],[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]],[[204.19999999999999],[222.19999999999999],[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]],[[119.7],[109.59999999999999],[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]],[[66.099999999999994],[69],[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]]]

[]

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Metres drilled, seasonally adjusted

Rise of 5.5%

Metres drilled, seasonally adjusted
	Seasonally adjusted ('000)
Jun 2013	1,827.1
Sep 2013	1,695
Dec 2013	1,706.9
Mar 2014	1,456.8
Jun 2014	1,549.3
Sep 2014	1,545.1
Dec 2014	1,557.3
Mar 2015	1,439.5
Jun 2015	1,407.2
Sep 2015	1,464
Dec 2015	1,626
Mar 2016	1,625.2
Jun 2016	1,645.8
Sep 2016	1,674.1
Dec 2016	1,787.5
Mar 2017	1,960
Jun 2017	2,124.1
Sep 2017	2,132.2
Dec 2017	2,124.6
Mar 2018	2,246.1
Jun 2018	2,493.4
Sep 2018	2,605.7
Dec 2018	2,447.5
Mar 2019	2,649.3
Jun 2019	2,522.1
Sep 2019	2,569.2
Dec 2019	2,672.8
Mar 2020	2,666.4
Jun 2020	2,365.6
Sep 2020	2,736.8
Dec 2020	2,943.4
Mar 2021	3,289.8
Jun 2021	3,469.8

Metres drilled, seasonally adjusted

["","Seasonally adjusted"]

[["Jun 2013","Sep 2013","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"],[[1827.0999999999999],[1695],[1706.9000000000001],[1456.8],[1549.3],[1545.0999999999999],[1557.3],[1439.5],[1407.2],[1464],[1626],[1625.2],[1645.8],[1674.0999999999999],[1787.5],[1960],[2124.0999999999999],[2132.1999999999998],[2124.5999999999999],[2246.0999999999999],[2493.4000000000001],[2605.6999999999998],[2447.5],[2649.3000000000002],[2522.0999999999999],[2569.1999999999998],[2672.8000000000002],[2666.4000000000001],[2365.5999999999999],[2736.8000000000002],[2943.4000000000001],[3289.8000000000002],[3469.8000000000002]]]

[]

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[{"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

Rose 30.4%
New deposits rose 26.1%
Existing deposits rose 32.4%.

Metres drilled, original series
	Total deposits	New deposits	Existing deposits
Jun 2013	1,992.5	692.5	1,300.0
Sep 2013	1,846.3	592.7	1,253.6
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

Metres drilled, original series

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

[["Jun 2013","Sep 2013","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"],[[1992.5],[1846.3],[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]],[[692.5],[592.70000000000005],[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]],[[1300],[1253.5999999999999],[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]]]

[]

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[{"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

Fall of 8.4% (-$22.7m) to $248.9m
All other areas fell 1.0% (-$1.3m) to $124.2m
Production lease areas fell 14.6% (-$21.4m) to $124.7m.

Petroleum exploration, seasonally adjusted
	Seasonally adjusted ($m)
Jun 2013	1,287.5
Sep 2013	1,131.8
Dec 2013	1,044.7
Mar 2014	1,126.7
Jun 2014	1,537.1
Sep 2014	976.3
Dec 2014	1,100.5
Mar 2015	1,014.8
Jun 2015	698.7
Sep 2015	574.6
Dec 2015	460.3
Mar 2016	463.1
Jun 2016	279.5
Sep 2016	347.4
Dec 2016	317.3
Mar 2017	397.5
Jun 2017	321.5
Sep 2017	276.7
Dec 2017	228.8
Mar 2018	219.9
Jun 2018	294.4
Sep 2018	300.2
Dec 2018	324.2
Mar 2019	281.7
Jun 2019	342.6
Sep 2019	363
Dec 2019	375.9
Mar 2020	316.8
Jun 2020	211.9
Sep 2020	220.6
Dec 2020	262.5
Mar 2021	271.6
Jun 2021	248.9

Petroleum exploration, seasonally adjusted

["","Seasonally adjusted"]

[["Jun 2013","Sep 2013","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"],[[1287.5],[1131.8],[1044.7],[1126.7],[1537.0999999999999],[976.29999999999995],[1100.5],[1014.8],[698.70000000000005],[574.60000000000002],[460.30000000000001],[463.10000000000002],[279.5],[347.39999999999998],[317.30000000000001],[397.5],[321.5],[276.69999999999999],[228.80000000000001],[219.90000000000001],[294.39999999999998],[300.19999999999999],[324.19999999999999],[281.69999999999999],[342.60000000000002],[363],[375.89999999999998],[316.80000000000001],[211.90000000000001],[220.59999999999999],[262.5],[271.60000000000002],[248.90000000000001]]]

[]

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[{"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

Fell 2.9% (-$4.9m) to $165.1m

Petroleum exploration - onshore, seasonally adjusted
	Seasonally adjusted ($m)
Jun 2013	470.9
Sep 2013	301.5
Dec 2013	260.9
Mar 2014	303.7
Jun 2014	450.1
Sep 2014	296.9
Dec 2014	376.5
Mar 2015	306.4
Jun 2015	260.7
Sep 2015	199
Dec 2015	137.9
Mar 2016	87.8
Jun 2016	64.3
Sep 2016	96.3
Dec 2016	73
Mar 2017	150.5
Jun 2017	115.8
Sep 2017	91.7
Dec 2017	75.5
Mar 2018	88.4
Jun 2018	94.5
Sep 2018	98.9
Dec 2018	113.8
Mar 2019	113.3
Jun 2019	113.1
Sep 2019	146
Dec 2019	213.8
Mar 2020	167.5
Jun 2020	144.9
Sep 2020	151.5
Dec 2020	139.6
Mar 2021	170
Jun 2021	165.1

Petroleum exploration - onshore, seasonally adjusted

["","Seasonally adjusted"]

[["Jun 2013","Sep 2013","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"],[[470.89999999999998],[301.5],[260.89999999999998],[303.69999999999999],[450.10000000000002],[296.89999999999998],[376.5],[306.39999999999998],[260.69999999999999],[199],[137.90000000000001],[87.799999999999997],[64.299999999999997],[96.299999999999997],[73],[150.5],[115.8],[91.700000000000003],[75.5],[88.400000000000006],[94.5],[98.900000000000006],[113.8],[113.3],[113.09999999999999],[146],[213.80000000000001],[167.5],[144.90000000000001],[151.5],[139.59999999999999],[170],[165.09999999999999]]]

[]

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[{"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

Fell 17.5% (-$17.8m) to $83.8m

Petroleum exploration - offshore, seasonally adjusted
	Seasonally adjusted ($m)
Jun 2013	816.6
Sep 2013	830.3
Dec 2013	783.8
Mar 2014	822.9
Jun 2014	1,086.9
Sep 2014	679.5
Dec 2014	724
Mar 2015	708.4
Jun 2015	438
Sep 2015	375.6
Dec 2015	322.4
Mar 2016	375.3
Jun 2016	215.2
Sep 2016	251.1
Dec 2016	244.3
Mar 2017	247
Jun 2017	205.7
Sep 2017	185
Dec 2017	153.3
Mar 2018	131.5
Jun 2018	199.9
Sep 2018	201.3
Dec 2018	210.3
Mar 2019	168.5
Jun 2019	229.5
Sep 2019	217
Dec 2019	162.1
Mar 2020	149.3
Jun 2020	67
Sep 2020	69.1
Dec 2020	122.9
Mar 2021	101.6
Jun 2021	83.8

Petroleum exploration - offshore, seasonally adjusted

["","Seasonally adjusted"]

[["Jun 2013","Sep 2013","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"],[[816.60000000000002],[830.29999999999995],[783.79999999999995],[822.89999999999998],[1086.9000000000001],[679.5],[724],[708.39999999999998],[438],[375.60000000000002],[322.39999999999998],[375.30000000000001],[215.19999999999999],[251.09999999999999],[244.30000000000001],[247],[205.69999999999999],[185],[153.30000000000001],[131.5],[199.90000000000001],[201.30000000000001],[210.30000000000001],[168.5],[229.5],[217],[162.09999999999999],[149.30000000000001],[67],[69.099999999999994],[122.90000000000001],[101.59999999999999],[83.799999999999997]]]

[]

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[{"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}]

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 (777.83 KB)

Time series spreadsheets

Data files

Table 1. Private exploration, actual and expected expenditure
Download xls [76 KB]
Table 2. Mineral exploration, (other than for petroleum) - expenditure and metres drilled
Download xls [89.5 KB]
Table 3b. Mineral exploration, (other than for petroleum) - expenditure by type of deposit
Download xls [116.5 KB]
Table 4. Mineral exploration, (other than for petroleum) - expenditure by state and territory
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Table 5. Mineral exploration, (other than for petroleum) - expenditure by mineral sought
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Table 6a. Petroleum exploration, expenditure by onshore and offshore
Download xls [172.5 KB]
Table 6b. Petroleum exploration, expenditure by type of lease
Download xls [178 KB]
Table 7. Petroleum exploration, expenditure by state and territory
Download xls [970.5 KB]

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 8412.0.

Methodology

Mineral and Petroleum Exploration, Australia methodology, June 2021

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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

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

Previous catalogue number

Methodology

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Microdata and TableBuilder

Provide feedback

APA

Mineral and Petroleum Exploration, Australia

APA

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

​​​​​​​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

Previous catalogue number

Methodology

Do you need more detailed statistics?

Request data

Microdata and TableBuilder

Suspension of trend series