Australian Bureau of Statistics
Celebrating the International Year of Statistics 2013

Rate the ABS website
ABS Home > Statistics > By Release Date
8412.0 - Mineral and Petroleum Exploration, Australia, Sep 2005  
Previous ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 14/12/2005   
   Page tools: Print Print Page Print all pages in this productPrint All RSS Feed RSS Bookmark and Share Search this Product



NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE (QUARTER) Release Date
December 2005 15 March 2006
March 2006 14 June 2006
June 2006 13 September 2006



CHANGES TO THIS ISSUE

There are no changes in this issue.



INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or Janine Phasavath on Sydney (02) 9268 4357.



SUMMARY OF FINDINGS


MINERAL EXPLORATION (OTHER THAN FOR PETROLEUM)


TREND ESTIMATES

The trend estimate for total mineral exploration expenditure increased by 2.9% to $281.1m in the September quarter 2005. The estimate has risen in the last eight quarters and is now 17.5% higher than the September quarter 2004 estimate.

Mineral Exploration, Seasonally adjusted and trend series
Graph: Mineral Exploration (Time Series Estimate): Expenditure and Metres Drilled, ; Total deposits , Australia



The largest increases this quarter were in Queensland (up $1.9m or 4.4%) and South Australia (up $1.9m or 9.5%). Most states showed increasing expenditure levels this quarter, with only Western Australia showing a decrease of 0.6%.


The trend estimate for metres drilled decreased by 1.3% this quarter. The current estimate is now 4.4% lower than the September quarter estimate for last year.



MINERAL EXPLORATION (OTHER THAN FOR PETROLEUM)


EXPLORATION EXPENDITURE

The seasonally adjusted estimate of mineral exploration expenditure increased by $17.7m (6.6%) this quarter. South Australia had the largest increase (of $8.5m or 52.1%), while Western Australia had the only decrease (of $7.5m or 4.7%).


In original terms, mineral exploration expenditure increased by $1.3m (0.4%). Exploration on areas of new deposits decreased by $9.7m (8.4%), while expenditure on areas of existing deposits increased by $11.1m (6.3%).


In original terms, the largest increase by minerals sought came from expenditure on copper exploration (up $9.1m or 40.6%), with the largest increase occurring in Queensland.


The largest decrease came from expenditure on iron ore exploration (down $9.4m or 20.6%).

Mineral Exploration, Original series
Graph: Mineral Exploration: Expenditure and Metres Drilled, ; Australia , Total deposits




MINERAL EXPLORATION (OTHER THAN FOR PETROLEUM)


METRES DRILLED

In seasonally adjusted terms, total metres drilled increased by 4.8% in the September quarter 2005. In original terms total metres drilled rose by 2.9%, due to an increase in drilling in areas of existing deposits (up by 6.5%). Drilling in areas of new deposits fell by 2.0%.

Metres Drilled, Original Series
Graph: Metres Drilled, Original Series




PETROLEUM EXPLORATION


OVERVIEW

Expenditure on petroleum exploration for the September quarter 2005 increased by $3.5m (1.3%) to $282.0m.


Expenditure on exploration on production leases increased (by $13.5m or 18.3%), while exploration on all other areas decreased (by $10.1m or 4.9%) this quarter.


There was a decrease of $7.5m (3.6%) in offshore exploration, while onshore exploration expenditure increased by $11.0m (16.0%).

Petroleum Exploration, Original series
Graph: Petroleum Exploration Expenditure




REGIONAL DATA

Petroleum exploration expenditure movements varied across the states this quarter. South Australia, Western Australia and Northern Territory increased, while all other states showed decreases. Victoria had the largest fall of $16.3m (41.8%). South Australia recorded the largest increase of $15.5m (109.9%).

Bookmark and Share. Opens in a new window
© Commonwealth of Australia 2013

Unless otherwise noted, content on this website is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia Licence together with any terms, conditions and exclusions as set out in the website Copyright notice. For permission to do anything beyond the scope of this licence and copyright terms contact us.