NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE (QUARTER)	Release Date
December 2010	9 March 2011
March 2011	8 June 2011
June 2011	7 September 2011
September 2011	7 December 2011

CHANGES TO THIS ISSUE

Revisions have been applied to estimates in Victoria and South Australia as a result of updated information received from survey respondents.


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)


TREND ESTIMATES

The trend estimate for total mineral exploration expenditure rose 4.0% (or $24.2m) to $625.8m in the September quarter 2010. The current quarter estimate is 25.2% higher than the September quarter 2009 estimate.

The largest contribution to the rise in the trend estimate this quarter was in Western Australia (up 5.0% or $17.3m) followed by Queensland (up 3.2% or $3.7m).

The trend estimate for metres drilled rose 1.3% this quarter. The current quarter estimate is 17.9% higher than the September quarter 2009 estimate.


MINERAL EXPLORATION (OTHER THAN FOR PETROLEUM)


EXPLORATION EXPENDITURE

The seasonally adjusted estimate of mineral exploration expenditure rose 0.6% (or $4.0m) to $619.7m in the September quarter 2010. The largest rise this quarter was in Northern Territory (up 24.3% or $8.9m), while Victoria had the largest fall (down 34.6% or -$7.2m).

In original terms, mineral exploration expenditure rose 5.1% (or $32.3m). Northern Territory had the largest rise (up 54.6% or $19.7m), followed by Western Australia (up 5.0% or $18.3m).

In original terms, exploration on areas of new deposits fell 3.3% (or -$8.3m), while expenditure on areas of existing deposits rose 10.5% (or $40.6m).

In original terms, the largest rise by minerals sought came from expenditure on uranium exploration (up 38.2% or $16.2m), with the largest rise occurring in Western Australia. The next largest rise came from expenditure on nickel and cobalt exploration (up 22.9% or $12.9m).

MINERAL EXPLORATION (OTHER THAN FOR PETROLEUM)


METRES DRILLED

In seasonally adjusted terms, total metres drilled fell 1.9% in the September quarter 2010. In original terms total metres drilled rose 6.2%. Drilling in areas of new deposits fell 2.5% and drilling in areas of existing deposits rose 11.9%.

PETROLEUM EXPLORATION


OVERVIEW

Expenditure on petroleum exploration for the September quarter 2010 fell 15.5% (or -$155.5m) to $850.4m.

Expenditure on exploration on production leases rose 17.7% (or $41.1m) to $273.4m, while exploration on all other areas fell 25.4% (or -$196.6m) to $577.0m this quarter.

Offshore exploration fell 19.7% (or -$156.8m) to $639.9m in the September quarter 2010, while onshore exploration expenditure rose 0.6% (or $1.3m) to $210.5m.

REGIONAL DATA

In the September quarter 2010, the largest fall in petroleum exploration expenditure was in Western Australia (down 13.8% or -$95.2m), followed by Victoria (down 51.5% or -$44.6m). Queensland showed the only rise (up 14.3% or $18.1m).