NOTES

FORTHCOMING ISSUES

ISSUE (QUARTER)	Release Date
September 2011	14 December 2011
December 2011	14 March 2012
March 2012	13 June 2012
June 2012	12 September 2012

CHANGES TO THIS ISSUE

Original estimates for Queensland coal exploration in the December quarter 2010 and March quarter 2011 have been revised as a result of updated information received from survey respondents. Revisions to seasonally adjusted estimates are due to revisions to original estimates as well as the concurrent methodology for deriving seasonal factors.


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 8.9% (or $70.1m) to $853.4m in the June quarter 2011. The current quarter estimate is 43.7% higher than the June quarter 2010 estimate.

The largest contribution to the rise in the trend estimate this quarter was in Western Australia (up 6.9% or $28.9m) followed by Queensland (up 14.4% or $25.7m).

The trend estimate for metres drilled rose 7.0% this quarter. The current quarter estimate is 26.2% higher than the June quarter 2010 estimate.


MINERAL EXPLORATION (OTHER THAN FOR PETROLEUM)


EXPLORATION EXPENDITURE

The seasonally adjusted estimate of mineral exploration expenditure rose 4.4% (or $36.0m) to $854.8m in the June quarter 2011. The largest rise this quarter was in Queensland (up 26.0% or $45.1m). The only decrease was in Western Australia (down 5.5% or -$24.9m).

In original terms, mineral exploration expenditure rose 39.6% (or $257.3m). Queensland had the largest rise (up 88.1% or $113.7m), followed by Western Australia (up 24.1% or $87.4m).

In original terms, exploration on areas of new deposits rose 35.9% (or $77.1m), while expenditure on areas of existing deposits rose 41.4% (or $180.2m).

In original terms, the largest rise by minerals sought came from expenditure on coal exploration (up 84.9% or $93.1m), with the largest rise occurring in Queensland. The next largest rise came from expenditure on iron ore exploration (up 49.0% or $70.6m).

MINERAL EXPLORATION (OTHER THAN FOR PETROLEUM)


METRES DRILLED

In seasonally adjusted terms, total metres drilled rose 6.7% in the June quarter 2011. In original terms total metres drilled rose 45.3%. Drilling in areas of new deposits rose 58.7% and drilling in areas of existing deposits rose 39.2%.

PETROLEUM EXPLORATION


OVERVIEW

Expenditure on petroleum exploration for the June quarter 2011 rose 10.9% (or $83.2m) to $849.3m.

Expenditure on exploration on production leases fell 5.4% (or -$7.7m) to $134.9m, while exploration on all other areas rose 14.6% (or $90.9m) to $714.4m this quarter.

Offshore exploration rose 8.2% (or $50.0m) to $662.9m, while onshore exploration expenditure rose 21.7% (or $33.2m) to $186.4m.


REGIONAL DATA

In the June quarter 2011, the largest rise in petroleum exploration expenditure was in Western Australia (up 5.3% or $32.0m), followed by Northern Territory (up 461.7% or $27.7m).