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

September 2021

Released

29/11/2021

View all releases

Mineral exploration

Total expenditure, seasonally adjusted

Rise of 4.5% ($39.5m) to $925.9m

Mineral exploration, seasonally adjusted
	Seasonally adjusted ($m)
Sep 2013	604.0
Dec 2013	516.5
Mar 2014	483.4
Jun 2014	499.7
Sep 2014	428.8
Dec 2014	431.2
Mar 2015	375.8
Jun 2015	335.9
Sep 2015	367.9
Dec 2015	358.8
Mar 2016	344.0
Jun 2016	344.7
Sep 2016	355.2
Dec 2016	379.4
Mar 2017	392.9
Jun 2017	432.3
Sep 2017	445.7
Dec 2017	469.7
Mar 2018	512.8
Jun 2018	551.7
Sep 2018	550.8
Dec 2018	564.7
Mar 2019	585.1
Jun 2019	645.1
Sep 2019	683.3
Dec 2019	721.7
Mar 2020	705.4
Jun 2020	663.9
Sep 2020	701.0
Dec 2020	741.0
Mar 2021	845.1
Jun 2021	886.4
Sep 2021	925.9

Mineral exploration, seasonally adjusted

["","Seasonally adjusted"]

[["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","Sep 2021"],[[604],[516.5],[483.39999999999998],[499.69999999999999],[428.80000000000001],[431.19999999999999],[375.80000000000001],[335.89999999999998],[367.89999999999998],[358.80000000000001],[344],[344.69999999999999],[355.19999999999999],[379.39999999999998],[392.89999999999998],[432.30000000000001],[445.69999999999999],[469.69999999999999],[512.79999999999995],[551.70000000000005],[550.79999999999995],[564.70000000000005],[585.10000000000002],[645.10000000000002],[683.29999999999995],[721.70000000000005],[705.39999999999998],[663.89999999999998],[701],[741],[845.10000000000002],[886.39999999999998],[925.89999999999998]]]

[]

[{"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

Rise of 7.7% ($70.4m) to $982.4m
Existing deposits rose 5.8% ($34.8m) to $636.3m
New deposits rose 11.5% ($35.6m) to $346.1m
Other Minerals recorded the largest rise (up 37.8%, $25m) to $91.1m
Iron Ore recorded the second largest rise (up 15.8%, $23.8m) to $174.6m

Mineral exploration, original series
	Selected base metals total	Gold	Iron Ore	Coal	All Other
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
Sep 2021	201.2	429.7	174.6	66.4	110.4

Mineral exploration, original series

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

[["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","Sep 2021"],[[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],[201.19999999999999]],[[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],[429.69999999999999]],[[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],[174.59999999999999]],[[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],[66.400000000000006]],[[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],[110.40000000000001]]]

[]

[{"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}]

[{"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 1.9%

Metres drilled, seasonally adjusted
	Seasonally adjusted ('000)
Sep 2013	1,695
Dec 2013	1,707.1
Mar 2014	1,456.7
Jun 2014	1,549.3
Sep 2014	1,545.1
Dec 2014	1,557.5
Mar 2015	1,439.3
Jun 2015	1,407.1
Sep 2015	1,464.1
Dec 2015	1,626.5
Mar 2016	1,624.6
Jun 2016	1,645.4
Sep 2016	1,674.5
Dec 2016	1,788.6
Mar 2017	1,958.5
Jun 2017	2,122.7
Sep 2017	2,133.5
Dec 2017	2,127
Mar 2018	2,244
Jun 2018	2,487.7
Sep 2018	2,611.8
Dec 2018	2,450.9
Mar 2019	2,644.4
Jun 2019	2,513.4
Sep 2019	2,579.7
Dec 2019	2,676.8
Mar 2020	2,659
Jun 2020	2,354.6
Sep 2020	2,753.3
Dec 2020	2,947.2
Mar 2021	3,277
Jun 2021	3,453.7
Sep 2021	3,388.3

Metres drilled, seasonally adjusted

["","Seasonally adjusted"]

[["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","Sep 2021"],[[1695],[1707.0999999999999],[1456.7],[1549.3],[1545.0999999999999],[1557.5],[1439.3],[1407.0999999999999],[1464.0999999999999],[1626.5],[1624.5999999999999],[1645.4000000000001],[1674.5],[1788.5999999999999],[1958.5],[2122.6999999999998],[2133.5],[2127],[2244],[2487.6999999999998],[2611.8000000000002],[2450.9000000000001],[2644.4000000000001],[2513.4000000000001],[2579.6999999999998],[2676.8000000000002],[2659],[2354.5999999999999],[2753.3000000000002],[2947.1999999999998],[3277],[3453.6999999999998],[3388.3000000000002]]]

[]

[{"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

Small rise of 0.1%
New deposits rose 4.3%
Existing deposits fell 1.7%.

Metres drilled, original series
	Total deposits	New deposits	Existing deposits
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
Sep 2021	3,648.2	1,154.5	2,493.7

Metres drilled, original series

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

[["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","Sep 2021"],[[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],[3648.1999999999998]],[[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],[1154.5]],[[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],[2493.6999999999998]]]

[]

[{"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 13% ($32.8m) to $284.8m
All other areas rose 36.5% ($47.0m) to $175.7m
Production lease areas fell 11.6% ($14.3m) to $109m.

Petroleum exploration, seasonally adjusted
	Seasonally adjusted ($m)
Sep 2013	1,133.1
Dec 2013	1,046
Mar 2014	1,121.8
Jun 2014	1,538.8
Sep 2014	977.6
Dec 2014	1,102.6
Mar 2015	1,008.7
Jun 2015	700.5
Sep 2015	575.2
Dec 2015	461.1
Mar 2016	460.3
Jun 2016	280.3
Sep 2016	347.6
Dec 2016	317.9
Mar 2017	395.3
Jun 2017	322.5
Sep 2017	276.4
Dec 2017	229.1
Mar 2018	219.4
Jun 2018	295.9
Sep 2018	298.2
Dec 2018	324.7
Mar 2019	282.2
Jun 2019	345
Sep 2019	358.2
Dec 2019	376.6
Mar 2020	318.9
Jun 2020	214.1
Sep 2020	215.9
Dec 2020	263.5
Mar 2021	274.2
Jun 2021	252
Sep 2021	284.8

Petroleum exploration, seasonally adjusted

["","Seasonally adjusted"]

[["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","Sep 2021"],[[1133.0999999999999],[1046],[1121.8],[1538.8],[977.60000000000002],[1102.5999999999999],[1008.7],[700.5],[575.20000000000005],[461.10000000000002],[460.30000000000001],[280.30000000000001],[347.60000000000002],[317.89999999999998],[395.30000000000001],[322.5],[276.39999999999998],[229.09999999999999],[219.40000000000001],[295.89999999999998],[298.19999999999999],[324.69999999999999],[282.19999999999999],[345],[358.19999999999999],[376.60000000000002],[318.89999999999998],[214.09999999999999],[215.90000000000001],[263.5],[274.19999999999999],[252],[284.80000000000001]]]

[]

[{"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 12.5% ($21.0m) to $188.5m

Petroleum exploration - onshore, seasonally adjusted
	Seasonally adjusted ($m)
Sep 2013	301.8
Dec 2013	261.2
Mar 2014	302.6
Jun 2014	450.5
Sep 2014	297.2
Dec 2014	377.1
Mar 2015	304.7
Jun 2015	261.4
Sep 2015	199.2
Dec 2015	138.1
Mar 2016	87.4
Jun 2016	64.5
Sep 2016	96.4
Dec 2016	73.1
Mar 2017	149.6
Jun 2017	116.2
Sep 2017	91.8
Dec 2017	75.4
Mar 2018	88.2
Jun 2018	94.9
Sep 2018	98.7
Dec 2018	113.5
Mar 2019	113.7
Jun 2019	113.8
Sep 2019	144.9
Dec 2019	213
Mar 2020	169.3
Jun 2020	146.5
Sep 2020	148.6
Dec 2020	139.1
Mar 2021	172.4
Jun 2021	167.5
Sep 2021	188.5

Petroleum exploration - onshore, seasonally adjusted

["","Seasonally adjusted"]

[["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","Sep 2021"],[[301.80000000000001],[261.19999999999999],[302.60000000000002],[450.5],[297.19999999999999],[377.10000000000002],[304.69999999999999],[261.39999999999998],[199.19999999999999],[138.09999999999999],[87.400000000000006],[64.5],[96.400000000000006],[73.099999999999994],[149.59999999999999],[116.2],[91.799999999999997],[75.400000000000006],[88.200000000000003],[94.900000000000006],[98.700000000000003],[113.5],[113.7],[113.8],[144.90000000000001],[213],[169.30000000000001],[146.5],[148.59999999999999],[139.09999999999999],[172.40000000000001],[167.5],[188.5]]]

[]

[{"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":"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 13.8% ($11.7m) to $96.2m

Petroleum exploration - offshore, seasonally adjusted
	Seasonally adjusted ($m)
Sep 2013	831.3
Dec 2013	784.8
Mar 2014	819.2
Jun 2014	1,088.3
Sep 2014	680.4
Dec 2014	725.4
Mar 2015	704
Jun 2015	439.1
Sep 2015	376
Dec 2015	323
Mar 2016	373
Jun 2016	215.8
Sep 2016	251.3
Dec 2016	244.8
Mar 2017	245.7
Jun 2017	206.3
Sep 2017	184.6
Dec 2017	153.6
Mar 2018	131.2
Jun 2018	201
Sep 2018	199.5
Dec 2018	211.2
Mar 2019	168.5
Jun 2019	231.3
Sep 2019	213.3
Dec 2019	163.7
Mar 2020	149.6
Jun 2020	67.6
Sep 2020	67.3
Dec 2020	124.4
Mar 2021	101.8
Jun 2021	84.5
Sep 2021	96.2

Petroleum exploration - offshore, seasonally adjusted

["","Seasonally adjusted"]

[["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","Sep 2021"],[[831.29999999999995],[784.79999999999995],[819.20000000000005],[1088.3],[680.39999999999998],[725.39999999999998],[704],[439.10000000000002],[376],[323],[373],[215.80000000000001],[251.30000000000001],[244.80000000000001],[245.69999999999999],[206.30000000000001],[184.59999999999999],[153.59999999999999],[131.19999999999999],[201],[199.5],[211.19999999999999],[168.5],[231.30000000000001],[213.30000000000001],[163.69999999999999],[149.59999999999999],[67.599999999999994],[67.299999999999997],[124.40000000000001],[101.8],[84.5],[96.200000000000003]]]

[]

[{"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 (782.3 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 [90.5 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
Download xls [142.5 KB]
Table 5. Mineral exploration, (other than for petroleum) - expenditure by mineral sought
Download xls [1.86 MB]
Table 6a. Petroleum exploration, expenditure by onshore and offshore
Download xls [176 KB]
Table 6b. Petroleum exploration, expenditure by type of lease
Download xls [179 KB]
Table 7. Petroleum exploration, expenditure by state and territory
Download xls [975 KB]

We will be progressively transitioning to releasing Excel files in .XLSX format from 3rd December 2021

ABS.Stat datasets

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

Mineral Exploration - expenditure and metres drilled by type of deposit, September 2021

Mineral Exploration - expenditure by mineral sought, September 2021

Mineral Exploration - expenditure by state and territory, September 2021

Petroleum Exploration - expenditure by onshore and offshore September 2021

Petroleum Exploration - expenditure by lease type, September 2021

Petroleum Exploration - expenditure by state and territory, September 2021

ABS.Stat is updating and the above datasets are now available in 'Data Explorer'.
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's changed, see the Data Explorer user guide

The current version of ABS.Stat will be removed at the end of 2021.

Data Explorer datasets

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 - expenditure and metres drilled, September 2021

Petroleum Exploration - expenditure, September 2021

Previous catalogue number

This release previously used catalogue number 8412.0.

Methodology

Mineral and Petroleum Exploration, Australia methodology, September 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

ABS.Stat datasets

Data Explorer datasets

Previous catalogue number

Methodology

Do you need more detailed statistics?

Request data

Microdata and TableBuilder

Provide feedback