Australian Mineral Exploration: A Review of Exploration for the Year 2001

• Summary
• Download the full publication

Summary

• The global downturn in mineral exploration continued in 2001 as planned world-wide expenditure fell to US$2.2 billion from US$2.6 billion in 2000.
• Australia is the world’s leading exploration destination with 17.5% of world mineral exploration budgets.
• Mineral exploration in Australia in 2000–01 totalled $683.3 million, the first increase (in current dollars) in exploration spending since 1996–971.
• Western Australia was the leading state for exploration with $424.1 million spent.
• Gold was the major commodity targeted accounting for 54% of all exploration spending.
• Access to government-generated geoscientific data and information was improved with the development of the Australian geoscience web portal – www.geoscience.gov.au.
• Minotaur Resources Ltd reported significant copper-gold-uranium intersections from the Mt Woods Joint Venture, South Australia.
• Acclaim Exploration NL reported a nickel oxide intersection of 144 m at 1.4% Ni from Wingellina in the Giles Complex, Western Australia.
• Sipa Resources International NL reported high grade gold intersections at the Waugh prospect, Western Australia, including 15 m at 57.2 g/t Au from 21 m including 3 m at 233 g/t Au from 22 m.
• Newcrest Mining Ltd further enhanced its Cadia, New South Wales, operation with the first resource estimate of 200 million tonnes at 1.1 g/t Au and 0.41% Cu at the Cadia Far East deposit.
• Major advances were made in both exploration and project development at the mineral sands projects in the Murray Basin in New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.
• Development decisions or commitments to proceed with mine development were made for gold, nickel, mineral sands, diamonds, tantalum and magnesite prospects.

[back to top]

Download the full publication

Australian Mineral Exploration: A Review of Exploration for the Year 2001. [PDF 840KB]