Total expenditure
- The trend estimate for total mineral exploration expenditure increased 5.4% ($34.4m) to $671.6m in the September quarter 2019. The largest contributor to the increase in the trend estimate this quarter was Western Australia (up 6.8%, $27.2m). The current quarter estimate is 21.4% higher than the September quarter 2018 estimate.
- The seasonally adjusted estimate for mineral exploration expenditure rose 4.8% ($31.1m) to $673.7m in the September quarter 2019. The largest contributor to the rise this quarter was Western Australia (up 7.2%, $28.5m).
| Seasonally adjusted ($m) | Trend ($m) | |
|---|---|---|
| Sep-2011 | 935.3 | 932.3 |
| Dec-2011 | 975.4 | 997.3 |
| Mar-2012 | 1,042.6 | 1,022.5 |
| Jun-2012 | 1,011.6 | 975.5 |
| Sep-2012 | 852.5 | 890.7 |
| Dec-2012 | 779.3 | 805.3 |
| Mar-2013 | 793.6 | 739.9 |
| Jun-2013 | 639.4 | 671.7 |
| Sep-2013 | 603.5 | 588.2 |
| Dec-2013 | 516.0 | 527.6 |
| Mar-2014 | 484.3 | 496.1 |
| Jun-2014 | 500.2 | 472.4 |
| Sep-2014 | 428.3 | 450.6 |
| Dec-2014 | 430.3 | 413.2 |
| Mar-2015 | 377.2 | 377.1 |
| Jun-2015 | 336.3 | 358.3 |
| Sep-2015 | 367.4 | 352.4 |
| Dec-2015 | 357.7 | 354.1 |
| Mar-2016 | 345.7 | 349.4 |
| Jun-2016 | 344.9 | 346.3 |
| Sep-2016 | 354.2 | 355.7 |
| Dec-2016 | 378.5 | 375.7 |
| Mar-2017 | 395.8 | 400.6 |
| Jun-2017 | 432.5 | 423.4 |
| Sep-2017 | 443.9 | 446.9 |
| Dec-2017 | 468.1 | 478.7 |
| Mar-2018 | 520.3 | 513.9 |
| Jun-2018 | 551.1 | 540.5 |
| Sep-2018 | 548.2 | 553.1 |
| Dec-2018 | 561.0 | 567.6 |
| Mar-2019 | 596.5 | 599.0 |
| Jun-2019 | 642.6 | 637.2 |
| Sep-2019 | 673.7 | 671.6 |
Mineral exploration, seasonally adjusted and trend
["","Seasonally adjusted","Trend"]
[["Sep-2011","Dec-2011","Mar-2012","Jun-2012","Sep-2012","Dec-2012","Mar-2013","Jun-2013","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"],[[935.3],[975.4],[1042.6],[1011.6],[852.5],[779.3],[793.6],[639.4],[603.5],[516],[484.3],[500.2],[428.3],[430.3],[377.2],[336.3],[367.4],[357.7],[345.7],[344.9],[354.2],[378.5],[395.8],[432.5],[443.9],[468.1],[520.3],[551.1],[548.2],[561],[596.5],[642.6],[673.7]],[[932.3],[997.3],[1022.5],[975.5],[890.7],[805.3],[739.9],[671.7],[588.2],[527.6],[496.1],[472.4],[450.6],[413.2],[377.1],[358.3],[352.4],[354.1],[349.4],[346.3],[355.7],[375.7],[400.6],[423.4],[446.9],[478.7],[513.9],[540.5],[553.1],[567.6],[599],[637.2],[671.6]]]
[]
[{"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":"","axis_title":"$m","precision":"","table_units":"($m)","tooltip_units":"(m)","axis_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"$","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]- In original terms, mineral exploration expenditure rose 7.7% ($51.5m) to $716.3m in the September quarter 2019. Exploration on areas of existing deposits rose 7.1% ($27.7m) and expenditure on areas of new deposits rose 8.7% ($23.8m).
- In original terms, the largest increase by minerals sought came from expenditure on Selected Base Metals (up 10.7%, $20.1m).
| Selected base metals total ($m) | Gold ($m) | Iron ore ($m) | All other ($m) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep-2011 | 204.5 | 184.2 | 234.7 | 344.1 |
| Dec-2011 | 186.8 | 200.0 | 311.8 | 333.7 |
| Mar-2012 | 184.0 | 168.8 | 267.9 | 255.4 |
| Jun-2012 | 220.2 | 215.0 | 336.2 | 277.5 |
| Sep-2012 | 167.5 | 194.4 | 280.5 | 252.3 |
| Dec-2012 | 161.0 | 162.7 | 278.4 | 221.8 |
| Mar-2013 | 110.5 | 154.7 | 248.2 | 158.9 |
| Jun-2013 | 124.7 | 150.0 | 204.2 | 185.8 |
| Sep-2013 | 105.5 | 132.2 | 222.2 | 165.8 |
| Dec-2013 | 75.0 | 116.5 | 184.2 | 171.6 |
| Mar-2014 | 63.0 | 81.7 | 115.2 | 147.7 |
| Jun-2014 | 78.4 | 103.9 | 189.0 | 143.3 |
| Sep-2014 | 81.7 | 90.0 | 142.9 | 140.7 |
| Dec-2014 | 80.1 | 101.7 | 145.1 | 132.3 |
| Mar-2015 | 59.2 | 91.6 | 82.5 | 84.0 |
| Jun-2015 | 58.0 | 112.4 | 77.2 | 97.0 |
| Sep-2015 | 61.4 | 133.7 | 82.2 | 116.5 |
| Dec-2015 | 58.2 | 138.2 | 74.5 | 110.4 |
| Mar-2016 | 56.6 | 119.3 | 57.7 | 56.2 |
| Jun-2016 | 54.8 | 156.9 | 76.8 | 65.5 |
| Sep-2016 | 59.0 | 159.1 | 79.8 | 81.5 |
| Dec-2016 | 63.4 | 182.3 | 73.7 | 82.0 |
| Mar-2017 | 54.4 | 155.2 | 53.5 | 71.5 |
| Jun-2017 | 94.1 | 192.6 | 84.3 | 73.9 |
| Sep-2017 | 111.7 | 192.9 | 83.8 | 86.7 |
| Dec-2017 | 120.6 | 208.9 | 68.9 | 96.9 |
| Mar-2018 | 110.8 | 187.4 | 50.1 | 90.3 |
| Jun-2018 | 153.1 | 220.9 | 89.0 | 104.8 |
| Sep-2018 | 146.2 | 239.7 | 86.3 | 113.0 |
| Dec-2018 | 157.9 | 244.1 | 75.5 | 115.1 |
| Mar-2019 | 128.1 | 223.0 | 67.4 | 86.0 |
| Jun-2019 | 188.6 | 259.8 | 94.8 | 121.7 |
| Sep-2019 | 208.7 | 277.8 | 101.2 | 128.8 |
Mineral exploration, original series
["","Selected base metals total","Gold","Iron ore","All other"]
[["Sep-2011","Dec-2011","Mar-2012","Jun-2012","Sep-2012","Dec-2012","Mar-2013","Jun-2013","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"],[[204.5],[186.8],[184],[220.2],[167.5],[161],[110.5],[124.7],[105.5],[75],[63],[78.4],[81.7],[80.1],[59.2],[58],[61.4],[58.2],[56.6],[54.8],[59],[63.4],[54.4],[94.1],[111.7],[120.6],[110.8],[153.1],[146.2],[157.9],[128.1],[188.6],[208.7]],[[184.2],[200],[168.8],[215],[194.4],[162.7],[154.7],[150],[132.2],[116.5],[81.7],[103.9],[90],[101.7],[91.6],[112.4],[133.7],[138.2],[119.3],[156.9],[159.1],[182.3],[155.2],[192.6],[192.9],[208.9],[187.4],[220.9],[239.7],[244.1],[223],[259.8],[277.8]],[[234.7],[311.8],[267.9],[336.2],[280.5],[278.4],[248.2],[204.2],[222.2],[184.2],[115.2],[189],[142.9],[145.1],[82.5],[77.2],[82.2],[74.5],[57.7],[76.8],[79.8],[73.7],[53.5],[84.3],[83.8],[68.9],[50.1],[89],[86.3],[75.5],[67.4],[94.8],[101.2]],[[344.1],[333.7],[255.4],[277.5],[252.3],[221.8],[158.9],[185.8],[165.8],[171.6],[147.7],[143.3],[140.7],[132.3],[84],[97],[116.5],[110.4],[56.2],[65.5],[81.5],[82],[71.5],[73.9],[86.7],[96.9],[90.3],[104.8],[113],[115.1],[86],[121.7],[128.8]]]
[]
[{"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":"","axis_min":"0","axis_max":"","axis_title":"$m","precision":"","table_units":"($m)","tooltip_units":"(m)","axis_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"$","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]Metres drilled
- The trend estimate for metres drilled fell -0.8% in the September quarter 2019. Compared with the September quarter 2018 estimate, the current quarter was relatively unchanged.
- The seasonally adjusted estimate for metres drilled rose 3.4% in the September quarter 2019.
| Seasonally adjusted ('000) | Trend ('000) | |
|---|---|---|
| Sep-2011 | 2,841.0 | 2,820.7 |
| Dec-2011 | 2,866.9 | 2,897.8 |
| Mar-2012 | 2,903.7 | 2,890.6 |
| Jun-2012 | 2,793.1 | 2,739.8 |
| Sep-2012 | 2,464.3 | 2,467.6 |
| Dec-2012 | 2,113.5 | 2,171.5 |
| Mar-2013 | 1,955.7 | 1,944.1 |
| Jun-2013 | 1,826.9 | 1,819.9 |
| Sep-2013 | 1,694.3 | 1,722.6 |
| Dec-2013 | 1,707.8 | 1,623.0 |
| Mar-2014 | 1,457.4 | 1,549.0 |
| Jun-2014 | 1,548.8 | 1,528.1 |
| Sep-2014 | 1,543.4 | 1,537.0 |
| Dec-2014 | 1,559.3 | 1,522.1 |
| Mar-2015 | 1,441.2 | 1,455.3 |
| Jun-2015 | 1,405.8 | 1,433.1 |
| Sep-2015 | 1,461.0 | 1,486.8 |
| Dec-2015 | 1,628.9 | 1,577.0 |
| Mar-2016 | 1,633.2 | 1,629.8 |
| Jun-2016 | 1,639.6 | 1,644.9 |
| Sep-2016 | 1,668.7 | 1,689.6 |
| Dec-2016 | 1,792.2 | 1,811.2 |
| Mar-2017 | 1,983.1 | 1,963.9 |
| Jun-2017 | 2,104.1 | 2,072.0 |
| Sep-2017 | 2,124.1 | 2,122.2 |
| Dec-2017 | 2,130.4 | 2,175.8 |
| Mar-2018 | 2,295.8 | 2,301.9 |
| Jun-2018 | 2,450.4 | 2,431.5 |
| Sep-2018 | 2,594.7 | 2,537.5 |
| Dec-2018 | 2,456.5 | 2,582.4 |
| Mar-2019 | 2,732.7 | 2,578.5 |
| Jun-2019 | 2,460.2 | 2,557.4 |
| Sep-2019 | 2,544.8 | 2,536.9 |
Metres drilled, seasonally adjusted and trend
["","Seasonally adjusted","Trend"]
[["Sep-2011","Dec-2011","Mar-2012","Jun-2012","Sep-2012","Dec-2012","Mar-2013","Jun-2013","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"],[[2841],[2866.9],[2903.7],[2793.1],[2464.3],[2113.5],[1955.7],[1826.9],[1694.3],[1707.8],[1457.4],[1548.8],[1543.4],[1559.3],[1441.2],[1405.8],[1461],[1628.9],[1633.2],[1639.6],[1668.7],[1792.2],[1983.1],[2104.1],[2124.1],[2130.4],[2295.8],[2450.4],[2594.7],[2456.5],[2732.7],[2460.2],[2544.8]],[[2820.7],[2897.8],[2890.6],[2739.8],[2467.6],[2171.5],[1944.1],[1819.9],[1722.6],[1623],[1549],[1528.1],[1537],[1522.1],[1455.3],[1433.1],[1486.8],[1577],[1629.8],[1644.9],[1689.6],[1811.2],[1963.9],[2072],[2122.2],[2175.8],[2301.9],[2431.5],[2537.5],[2582.4],[2578.5],[2557.4],[2536.9]]]
[]
[{"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":"","axis_title":"'000","precision":"","table_units":"('000)","tooltip_units":"('000)","axis_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]- In original terms, metres drilled rose 3.2%. Drilling in areas of new deposits rose 20.8% and drilling in areas of existing deposits fell -6.1%.
| New deposits ('000) | Existing deposits ('000) | |
|---|---|---|
| Sep-2011 | 1,037.7 | 2,120.3 |
| Dec-2011 | 1,008.4 | 1,947.2 |
| Mar-2012 | 582.8 | 1,688.8 |
| Jun-2012 | 1,071.2 | 1,952.4 |
| Sep-2012 | 943.1 | 1,771.1 |
| Dec-2012 | 677.4 | 1,501.6 |
| Mar-2013 | 416.7 | 1,117.6 |
| Jun-2013 | 692.5 | 1,300.0 |
| Sep-2013 | 592.7 | 1,253.6 |
| Dec-2013 | 396.1 | 1,368.1 |
| Mar-2014 | 300.0 | 848.1 |
| Jun-2014 | 308.8 | 1,386.0 |
| Sep-2014 | 397.2 | 1,271.8 |
| Dec-2014 | 491.9 | 1,121.2 |
| Mar-2015 | 242.1 | 898.6 |
| Jun-2015 | 438.1 | 1,103.3 |
| Sep-2015 | 341.1 | 1,232.7 |
| Dec-2015 | 442.4 | 1,240.2 |
| Mar-2016 | 306.6 | 994.8 |
| Jun-2016 | 418.2 | 1,376.4 |
| Sep-2016 | 539.1 | 1,257.9 |
| Dec-2016 | 658.7 | 1,183.9 |
| Mar-2017 | 484.0 | 1,117.5 |
| Jun-2017 | 682.6 | 1,616.2 |
| Sep-2017 | 841.6 | 1,452.4 |
| Dec-2017 | 766.1 | 1,409.8 |
| Mar-2018 | 631.7 | 1,221.9 |
| Jun-2018 | 971.8 | 1,701.0 |
| Sep-2018 | 1,041.7 | 1,778.6 |
| Dec-2018 | 949.3 | 1,545.2 |
| Mar-2019 | 755.4 | 1,460.4 |
| Jun-2019 | 923.8 | 1,755.9 |
| Sep-2019 | 1,115.8 | 1,649.5 |
Metres drilled, original series
["","New deposits","Existing deposits"]
[["Sep-2011","Dec-2011","Mar-2012","Jun-2012","Sep-2012","Dec-2012","Mar-2013","Jun-2013","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"],[[1037.7],[1008.4],[582.8],[1071.2],[943.1],[677.4],[416.7],[692.5],[592.7],[396.1],[300],[308.8],[397.2],[491.9],[242.1],[438.1],[341.1],[442.4],[306.6],[418.2],[539.1],[658.7],[484],[682.6],[841.6],[766.1],[631.7],[971.8],[1041.7],[949.3],[755.4],[923.8],[1115.8]],[[2120.3],[1947.2],[1688.8],[1952.4],[1771.1],[1501.6],[1117.6],[1300],[1253.6],[1368.1],[848.1],[1386],[1271.8],[1121.2],[898.6],[1103.3],[1232.7],[1240.2],[994.8],[1376.4],[1257.9],[1183.9],[1117.5],[1616.2],[1452.4],[1409.8],[1221.9],[1701],[1778.6],[1545.2],[1460.4],[1755.9],[1649.5]]]
[]
[{"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":"","axis_min":"0","axis_max":"","axis_title":"'000","precision":"","table_units":"('000)","tooltip_units":"('000)","axis_units":"","data_unit_prefix":"","data_unit_suffix":"","reverse_axis":false}]