Authors / CoAuthors
McKay, W.J.
Abstract
In 2001, Australia's economic demonstrated resources (EDR) of bauxite, copper, gold, lead, magnesite, ilmenite, zircon, nickel, phosphate, PGM, tantalum, silver, vanadium and zinc increased, while those of black coal, diamonds, iron ore, lithium, manganese ore and uranium decreased. EDR of brown coal was maintained at levels similar to those reported in 2000. The reductions in EDR were due mainly to ongoing high levels of production; with low commodity prices a subsidiary factor. EDR of gold, nickel and mineral sands reached record levels. Gold EDR rose by 4% and was over 80% of total demonstrated resources, this increase in resources continuing the established long-term growth trend for gold. In recent years that trend has continued despite falling exploration expenditure reflecting an increasing trend to concentrate exploration efforts in brownfields regions in response to the sustained period of depressed gold price. Australia, continues to rank as one of the world's leading mineral resource nations. It has the world's largest EDR of lead, mineral sands, nickel, silver, tantalum, uranium and zinc. In addition, its EDR is in the top six worldwide for bauxite, black coal, brown coal, cobalt, copper, gold, iron ore, lithium, manganese ore, rare earth oxides and gem/near gem diamond. Mineral exploration expenditure rose by 1% to $683.3 million in 2000-01, which was the first increase in annual exploration spending since 1996-97. However spending for calendar year 2001, based on the sum of ABS four-quarter figures, was down by $12 million to $664.4 million. Production of many mineral commodities again reached record levels in 2000-01, and overall mine production is projected by ABARE to rise in the five years to 2006-07 with the exception of gold which they forecast will fall by 6%. ABARE have projected a very high growth of some 60% for mine production of nickel in this period. Increases are also forecast for mine production of coal (+17%), copper (4%), lead (3%), zinc (12%), bauxite (17%) and iron ore (19%).
Product Type
nonGeographicDataset
eCat Id
41116
Contact for the resource
Custodian
Owner
Custodian
Cnr Jerrabomberra Ave and Hindmarsh Dr GPO Box 378
Canberra
ACT
2601
Australia
Keywords
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- GA PublicationReport
- ( Theme )
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- resource assessment
- ( Theme )
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- commodities
- ( Theme )
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- mineral deposits
- ( Theme )
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- mineral exploration
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- AU
- Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)
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- Earth Sciences
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- Published_External
Publication Date
2002-01-01T00:00:00
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unknown
Topic Category
geoscientificInformation
Series Information
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Unknown
Parent Information
Extents
[-43.0, -10.0, 113.0, 154.0]
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