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Mineral and Petroleum Exploration, Australia

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

Reference period

September 2020

Released

30/11/2020

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Mineral exploration

Total expenditure

Rise of 6.1% (+$40.2m) to $702.1m.

Mineral exploration, seasonally adjusted
	Seasonally adjusted ($m)
Sep 2012	852.7
Dec 2012	779.8
Mar 2013	793.0
Jun 2013	639.1
Sep 2013	603.7
Dec 2013	516.4
Mar 2014	483.5
Jun 2014	499.9
Sep 2014	428.5
Dec 2014	431.2
Mar 2015	376.1
Jun 2015	336.2
Sep 2015	367.6
Dec 2015	358.6
Mar 2016	344.3
Jun 2016	344.9
Sep 2016	354.6
Dec 2016	379.5
Mar 2017	393.5
Jun 2017	432.7
Sep 2017	444.8
Dec 2017	469.0
Mar 2018	515.2
Jun 2018	551.8
Sep 2018	550.2
Dec 2018	562.4
Mar 2019	589.8
Jun 2019	643.9
Sep 2019	684.0
Dec 2019	716.6
Mar 2020	714.4
Jun 2020	661.9
Sep 2020	702.1

Mineral exploration, seasonally adjusted

["","Seasonally adjusted"]

[["Sep 2012","Dec 2012","Mar 2013","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"],[[852.70000000000005],[779.79999999999995],[793],[639.10000000000002],[603.70000000000005],[516.39999999999998],[483.5],[499.89999999999998],[428.5],[431.19999999999999],[376.10000000000002],[336.19999999999999],[367.60000000000002],[358.60000000000002],[344.30000000000001],[344.89999999999998],[354.60000000000002],[379.5],[393.5],[432.69999999999999],[444.80000000000001],[469],[515.20000000000005],[551.79999999999995],[550.20000000000005],[562.39999999999998],[589.79999999999995],[643.89999999999998],[684],[716.60000000000002],[714.39999999999998],[661.89999999999998],[702.10000000000002]]]

[]

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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 9.0% (+$61.6m) to $744.9m
Existing deposits rose 7.3%(+$33.1m)
New deposits rose 12.4% (+$28.5m)
Gold exploration recorded the largest rise (up 17.0%, +$51.7m)

Mineral exploration, original series
	Selected base metals total ($m)	Gold ($m)	Iron Ore ($m)	Coal ($m)	All Other ($m)
Sep 2012	167.5	194.4	280.5	170.6	81.7
Dec 2012	161.0	162.7	278.4	149.2	72.6
Mar 2013	110.5	154.7	248.2	104.5	54.3
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

Mineral exploration, original series

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

[["Sep 2012","Dec 2012","Mar 2013","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"],[[167.5],[161],[110.5],[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]],[[194.40000000000001],[162.69999999999999],[154.69999999999999],[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]],[[280.5],[278.39999999999998],[248.19999999999999],[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]],[[170.59999999999999],[149.19999999999999],[104.5],[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]],[[81.700000000000003],[72.599999999999994],[54.299999999999997],[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]]]

[]

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[{"axis_id":"0","tick_interval":"100","axis_min":"0","axis_max":"400","axis_title":"$m","precision":"1","table_units":"($m)","tooltip_units":"(m)","axis_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"$","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

Metres drilled

Rise of 14.6%

Metres drilled, seasonally adjusted
	Seasonally adjusted ('000)
Sep 2012	2,464
Dec 2012	2,113
Mar 2013	1,956
Jun 2013	1,827
Sep 2013	1,694
Dec 2013	1,707
Mar 2014	1,458
Jun 2014	1,550
Sep 2014	1,544
Dec 2014	1,557
Mar 2015	1,442
Jun 2015	1,408
Sep 2015	1,461
Dec 2015	1,626
Mar 2016	1,632
Jun 2016	1,646
Sep 2016	1,668
Dec 2016	1,785
Mar 2017	1,979
Jun 2017	2,122
Sep 2017	2,120
Dec 2017	2,118
Mar 2018	2,284
Jun 2018	2,487
Sep 2018	2,583
Dec 2018	2,438
Mar 2019	2,711
Jun 2019	2,513
Sep 2019	2,539
Dec 2019	2,660
Mar 2020	2,744
Jun 2020	2,355
Sep 2020	2,698

Metres drilled, seasonally adjusted

["","Seasonally adjusted"]

[["Sep 2012","Dec 2012","Mar 2013","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"],[[2464],[2113],[1956],[1827],[1694],[1707],[1458],[1550],[1544],[1557],[1442],[1408],[1461],[1626],[1632],[1646],[1668],[1785],[1979],[2122],[2120],[2118],[2284],[2487],[2583],[2438],[2711],[2513],[2539],[2660],[2744],[2355],[2698]]]

[]

[{"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

Rise of 18.8%
New deposits rose 23.3%
Existing deposits rose 16.5%.

Metres drilled, original series
	Total deposits ('000)	New deposits ('000)	Existing deposits ('000)
Sep 2012	2,714	943	1,771
Dec 2012	2,179	677	1,502
Mar 2013	1,534	417	1,118
Jun 2013	1,992	692	1,300
Sep 2013	1,846	593	1,254
Dec 2013	1,764	396	1,368
Mar 2014	1,148	300	848
Jun 2014	1,695	309	1,386
Sep 2014	1,669	397	1,272
Dec 2014	1,613	492	1,121
Mar 2015	1,141	242	899
Jun 2015	1,540	438	1,103
Sep 2015	1,573	341	1,233
Dec 2015	1,682	442	1,240
Mar 2016	1,301	307	995
Jun 2016	1,795	418	1,376
Sep 2016	1,797	539	1,258
Dec 2016	1,843	659	1,184
Mar 2017	1,591	484	1,118
Jun 2017	2,299	683	1,616
Sep 2017	2,294	842	1,452
Dec 2017	2,176	766	1,410
Mar 2018	1,854	632	1,222
Jun 2018	2,673	972	1,701
Sep 2018	2,812	1,042	1,779
Dec 2018	2,494	949	1,545
Mar 2019	2,216	755	1,460
Jun 2019	2,680	924	1,756
Sep 2019	2,780	1,116	1,665
Dec 2019	2,715	917	1,798
Mar 2020	2,253	806	1,447
Jun 2020	2,495	851	1,645
Sep 2020	2,965	1,048	1,916

Metres drilled, original series

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

[["Sep 2012","Dec 2012","Mar 2013","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"],[[2714],[2179],[1534],[1992],[1846],[1764],[1148],[1695],[1669],[1613],[1141],[1540],[1573],[1682],[1301],[1795],[1797],[1843],[1591],[2299],[2294],[2176],[1854],[2673],[2812],[2494],[2216],[2680],[2780],[2715],[2253],[2495],[2965]],[[943],[677],[417],[692],[593],[396],[300],[309],[397],[492],[242],[438],[341],[442],[307],[418],[539],[659],[484],[683],[842],[766],[632],[972],[1042],[949],[755],[924],[1116],[917],[806],[851],[1048]],[[1771],[1502],[1118],[1300],[1254],[1368],[848],[1386],[1272],[1121],[899],[1103],[1233],[1240],[995],[1376],[1258],[1184],[1118],[1616],[1452],[1410],[1222],[1701],[1779],[1545],[1460],[1756],[1665],[1798],[1447],[1645],[1916]]]

[]

[{"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":"500","axis_min":"0","axis_max":"3000","axis_title":"'000","precision":"","table_units":"('000)","tooltip_units":"('000)","axis_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]

Petroleum exploration

Total expenditure

Rise of 4.0% (+$8.4m) to $220.2m
All other areas rose 26.5% (+$25.9m)
Production lease areas fell 15.3% (-$17.5m).

Petroleum exploration, seasonally adjusted
	Seasonally adjusted ($m)
Sep 2012	1,114.6
Dec 2012	1,323.9
Mar 2013	1,063.3
Jun 2013	1,288.3
Sep 2013	1,132.7
Dec 2013	1,045.7
Mar 2014	1,122.6
Jun 2014	1,538.9
Sep 2014	977.1
Dec 2014	1,102
Mar 2015	1,009.7
Jun 2015	700.7
Sep 2015	574.7
Dec 2015	460.7
Mar 2016	461
Jun 2016	280.5
Sep 2016	347.3
Dec 2016	317.2
Mar 2017	396.5
Jun 2017	322.6
Sep 2017	276.4
Dec 2017	228.5
Mar 2018	220.1
Jun 2018	294.9
Sep 2018	299.8
Dec 2018	324
Mar 2019	281.8
Jun 2019	342.9
Sep 2019	362.3
Dec 2019	377.2
Mar 2020	315.4
Jun 2020	211.8
Sep 2020	220.2

Petroleum exploration, seasonally adjusted

["","Seasonally adjusted"]

[["Sep 2012","Dec 2012","Mar 2013","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"],[[1114.5999999999999],[1323.9000000000001],[1063.3],[1288.3],[1132.7],[1045.7],[1122.5999999999999],[1538.9000000000001],[977.10000000000002],[1102],[1009.7],[700.70000000000005],[574.70000000000005],[460.69999999999999],[461],[280.5],[347.30000000000001],[317.19999999999999],[396.5],[322.60000000000002],[276.39999999999998],[228.5],[220.09999999999999],[294.89999999999998],[299.80000000000001],[324],[281.80000000000001],[342.89999999999998],[362.30000000000001],[377.19999999999999],[315.39999999999998],[211.80000000000001],[220.19999999999999]]]

[]

[{"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

Rose 5.9% (+$8.6m) to $155.4m
Onshore drilling expenditure fell 4.7% (-$4.3m)
Other onshore expenditure rose 23.2% (+$12.9m)

Petroleum exploration - onshore, seasonally adjusted
	Seasonally adjusted ($m)
Sep 2012	270.1
Dec 2012	305.2
Mar 2013	318.2
Jun 2013	471.2
Sep 2013	301.9
Dec 2013	260.9
Mar 2014	302.9
Jun 2014	450.7
Sep 2014	297.4
Dec 2014	376.3
Mar 2015	304.9
Jun 2015	262
Sep 2015	199.4
Dec 2015	137.3
Mar 2016	87.4
Jun 2016	64.9
Sep 2016	96.7
Dec 2016	72.2
Mar 2017	149.7
Jun 2017	117.2
Sep 2017	93.2
Dec 2017	73.3
Mar 2018	88.3
Jun 2018	96.1
Sep 2018	102
Dec 2018	108.6
Mar 2019	113.2
Jun 2019	115.6
Sep 2019	152.3
Dec 2019	204.2
Mar 2020	166.8
Jun 2020	146.8
Sep 2020	155.4

Petroleum exploration - onshore, seasonally adjusted

["","Seasonally adjusted"]

[["Sep 2012","Dec 2012","Mar 2013","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"],[[270.10000000000002],[305.19999999999999],[318.19999999999999],[471.19999999999999],[301.89999999999998],[260.89999999999998],[302.89999999999998],[450.69999999999999],[297.39999999999998],[376.30000000000001],[304.89999999999998],[262],[199.40000000000001],[137.30000000000001],[87.400000000000006],[64.900000000000006],[96.700000000000003],[72.200000000000003],[149.69999999999999],[117.2],[93.200000000000003],[73.299999999999997],[88.299999999999997],[96.099999999999994],[102],[108.59999999999999],[113.2],[115.59999999999999],[152.30000000000001],[204.19999999999999],[166.80000000000001],[146.80000000000001],[155.40000000000001]]]

[]

[{"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

Fell 0.3% (-$0.2m) to $64.8m
Drilling expenditure fell 33.3% (-$0.9m)
Other offshore expenditure rose 1.1% ($0.7m).

Petroleum exploration - offshore, seasonally adjusted
	Seasonally adjusted ($m)
Sep 2012	844.5
Dec 2012	1,018.7
Mar 2013	745
Jun 2013	817.2
Sep 2013	830.8
Dec 2013	784.8
Mar 2014	819.7
Jun 2014	1,088.2
Sep 2014	679.7
Dec 2014	725.8
Mar 2015	704.8
Jun 2015	438.7
Sep 2015	375.3
Dec 2015	323.4
Mar 2016	373.6
Jun 2016	215.5
Sep 2016	250.6
Dec 2016	245
Mar 2017	246.8
Jun 2017	205.4
Sep 2017	183.2
Dec 2017	155.1
Mar 2018	131.8
Jun 2018	198.8
Sep 2018	197.9
Dec 2018	215.4
Mar 2019	168.7
Jun 2019	227.3
Sep 2019	210
Dec 2019	173
Mar 2020	148.6
Jun 2020	65
Sep 2020	64.8

Petroleum exploration - offshore, seasonally adjusted

["","Seasonally adjusted"]

[["Sep 2012","Dec 2012","Mar 2013","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"],[[844.5],[1018.7],[745],[817.20000000000005],[830.79999999999995],[784.79999999999995],[819.70000000000005],[1088.2],[679.70000000000005],[725.79999999999995],[704.79999999999995],[438.69999999999999],[375.30000000000001],[323.39999999999998],[373.60000000000002],[215.5],[250.59999999999999],[245],[246.80000000000001],[205.40000000000001],[183.19999999999999],[155.09999999999999],[131.80000000000001],[198.80000000000001],[197.90000000000001],[215.40000000000001],[168.69999999999999],[227.30000000000001],[210],[173],[148.59999999999999],[65],[64.799999999999997]]]

[]

[{"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}]

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.

Inquiries

Inquiries about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070. The ABS Privacy Policy outlines how the ABS will handle any personal information that you provide to us.

Data downloads

Table 1. Private exploration, actual and expected expenditure

Data files

Download xls [75.5 KB]

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

Data files

Download xls [87.5 KB]

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

Data files

Download xls [115.5 KB]

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

Data files

Download xls [132.5 KB]

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

Data files

Download xls [1.81 MB]

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

Data files

Download xls [165.5 KB]

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

Data files

Download xls [175 KB]

Table 7. Petroleum exploration, expenditure by state and territory

Data files

Download xls [957.5 KB]

All data cubes

Data files

Download zip [714.24 KB]

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 8412.0.

Methodology

Mineral and Petroleum Exploration, Australia methodology, September 2020

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APA

Citation

Mineral and Petroleum Exploration, Australia

APA

Citation

Mineral exploration

Total expenditure

Mineral exploration, original series

Metres drilled

Metres Drilled, original series

Petroleum exploration

Total expenditure

Onshore

Offshore

Suspension of trend series

Inquiries

Data downloads

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

All data cubes

Previous catalogue number

Methodology

Do you need more detailed statistics?

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Microdata and TableBuilder

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APA

Mineral and Petroleum Exploration, Australia

APA

Mineral exploration

Total expenditure

Mineral exploration, original series

Metres drilled

Metres Drilled, original series

Petroleum exploration

Total expenditure

Onshore

Offshore

​​​​​​​Suspension of trend series

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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

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