NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE (QUARTER)	Release Date
June 2013	2 September 2013
September 2013	2 December 2013
December 2013	3 March 2014
March 2014	2 June 2014

CHANGES TO THIS ISSUE

There are no changes to this issue.


INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Mark Busby on Sydney (02) 9268 4533.


SUMMARY COMMENTARY


MINERAL EXPLORATION (OTHER THAN FOR PETROLEUM)


TOTAL EXPENDITURE

The trend estimate for total mineral exploration expenditure fell 4.5% (or -$36.8m) to $772.6m in the March quarter 2013. The largest contributor to the fall in the trend estimate this quarter was Queensland (down 6.4% or -$11.4m). The current quarter estimate is 24.6% lower than the March quarter 2012 estimate.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for mineral exploration expenditure rose 1.0% (or $7.9m) to $797.4m in the March quarter 2013. The largest contributor to the rise this quarter was Western Australia (up 7.0% or $31.9m).

In original terms, mineral exploration expenditure fell 18.4% (or -$151.7m) to $672.2m in the March quarter 2013. Exploration on areas of new deposits fell 33.1% (or -$87.1m) and expenditure on areas of existing deposits fell 11.5% (or -$64.7m).

In original terms, the largest fall by minerals sought came from expenditure on coal exploration (down 30.0% or -$44.7m). The next largest fall came from expenditure on copper exploration (down 33.8% or -$31.1m).

METRES DRILLED

The trend estimate for metres drilled fell 9.3% in the March quarter 2013. The current quarter estimate is 32.0% lower than the March quarter 2012 estimate.

The seasonally adjusted estimate for metres drilled fell 7.0% in the March quarter 2013.

In original terms, metres drilled fell 29.6%. Drilling in areas of new deposits fell 38.4% and drilling in areas of existing deposits fell 25.6%.

PETROLEUM EXPLORATION


TOTAL EXPENDITURE

The trend estimate for total petroleum exploration expenditure rose 2.7% (or $32.5m) to $1232.5m in the March quarter 2013. Exploration expenditure on production leases fell 0.5% (or -$1.6m), while exploration expenditure on all other areas rose 2.6% (or $22.6m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for total petroleum exploration expenditure fell 13.6% (or -$175.9m) to $1121.7m in the March quarter 2013. Exploration expenditure on production leases fell 32.9% (or -$132.3m) and exploration expenditure on all other areas fell 4.9% (or -$43.6m).

The largest contributor to the rise in the trend estimate was South Australia (up 27.8% or $30.2m) and the largest contributor to the fall in the seasonally adjusted estimate was Western Australia (down 17.7% or -$165.5m).

ONSHORE

The trend estimate for onshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 11.6% (or $35.4m) to $339.8m in the March quarter 2013. Expenditure on drilling rose 16.3% (or $32.7m), while other onshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 1.7% (or $1.8m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for onshore petroleum exploration expenditure rose 16.0% (or $48.3m) to $349.7m in the March quarter 2013. Expenditure on drilling rose 16.6% (or $34.2m), while other onshore petroleum exploration rose 14.8% (or $14.1m).

OFFSHORE

The trend estimate for offshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 0.8% (or -$7.0m) to $889.0m in the March quarter 2013. Expenditure on drilling fell 0.8% (or -$5.7m), while other offshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 0.6% (or -$1.2m).

The seasonally adjusted estimate for offshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 22.5% (or -$224.1m) to $772.1m in the March quarter 2013. Expenditure on drilling fell 24.1% (or -$185.7m), while other offshore petroleum exploration expenditure fell 16.9% (or -$38.4m).