Australia's Identified Mineral Resources 2023 Commodity Summaries

Antimony

Major Uses:
Metal alloys, fire retardants, lead batteries, manufacturing solder, sheet and pipe metal, ammunition, bearings, castings and pewter.

Abbreviations
kt Sb – kilotonnes of antimony content; n.a. – not available.

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets.

Figure 7. Australian antimony deposits and operating mines, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total resources (EDR + Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources + Inferred).

Bauxite

Major Uses:
Production of aluminium metal for use in buildings, aeronautics, electric vehicles, whitegoods, power lines, food storage and renewable energy technologies.

Abbreviations
Mt – million tonnes; $m – million dollars (Australian).

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets. Export income is the sum of bauxite, alumina and aluminum categories, sourced from Office of the Chief Economist, Resources and Energy Quarterly, September 2023.

Figure 8. Australian bauxite deposits, operating mines, alumina refineries and aluminium smelters, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total resources (EDR + Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources + Inferred).
For clarity, only major or significant deposits are labelled.

Black Coal

Major Uses:
Electricity generation, steel making.

Abbreviations
Mt – million tonnes; $m – million dollars (Australian).

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets. Export income is the sum of thermal and coking coal categories, sourced from Office of the Chief Economist, Resources and Energy Quarterly, September 2023.

Figure 9. Australian black coal deposits and operating mines, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total recoverable resources (EDR + Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources + Inferred).
For clarity, only major or significant deposits are labelled.

Brown Coal

Major Uses:
Electricity generation, hydrogen generation.

Abbreviations
Mt – million tonnes; n.a. – not available.

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets.

Figure 10. Australian brown coal deposits and operating mines, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total recoverable resources (EDR + Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources + Inferred).
For clarity, only major or significant deposits are labelled.

Cobalt

Major Uses:
Rechargeable battery electrodes in lithium-ion batteries, electric vehicles, superalloys, pigments, catalysts and magnets.

Abbreviations
kt Co – kilotonnes of cobalt content; $m – million dollars (Australian).

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets. Export income sourced from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government 2022 Major Commodities Resource Data File.

Figure 11. Australian cobalt deposits and operating mines, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total resources (EDR + Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources + Inferred).
For clarity, only major or significant deposits are labelled.

Copper

Major Uses:
Electricity distribution, electrical equipment and devices, plumbing, industrial machinery, interior fixtures, wind turbines, solar panels, electromagnets and the transport industry including electric vehicles.

Abbreviations
Mt Cu – million tonnes of copper content; $m – million dollars (Australian).

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets. Export income is the sum of refined and ore/concentrate categories, sourced from Office of the Chief Economist, Resources and Energy Quarterly, September 2023.

Figure 12. Australian copper deposits and operating mines, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total resources (EDR + Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources + Inferred).
For clarity, only major or significant deposits are labelled.

Diamond

Major Uses:
Jewellery, industrial cutting equipment, diamond machine tools, rock drilling bits, diamond polishing powders and compounds.

Abbreviations
Mc – million carats; $m – million dollars (Australian).

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets. Export income is the sum of unsorted and gem categories, sourced from Office of the Chief Economist, Resources and Energy Quarterly, September 2023.

Figure 13. Australian diamond deposits, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total resources (EDR + Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources + Inferred).

Fluorine

Major Uses:
Welding, the nuclear energy industry, plastics such as Teflon, an additive to water supplies and toothpaste to prevent tooth decay. Used in semiconductor manufacture and solar photovoltaic cells.

Abbreviations
kt F – kilotonnes of Fluorine content; $m – million dollars (Australian).

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets.

Figure 14. Australian fluorine deposits, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total resources (EDR + Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources + Inferred).

Gold

Major Uses:
Jewellery, storing monetary value, personal electronic devices, computers, dentistry and aerospace industries.

Abbreviations
t Au – tonnes of gold content; $m – million dollars (Australian).

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets. Export income sourced from Office of the Chief Economist, Resources and Energy Quarterly, September 2023.

Figure 15. Australian gold deposits and operating mines, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total resources (EDR + Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources + Inferred).
For clarity, only major or significant deposits are labelled.

Graphite

Major Uses:
Anode component of lithium-ion batteries, refractory materials, lubricants and pencils.

Abbreviations
Mt – million tonnes; $m – million dollars (Australian).

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets.

Figure 16. Australian graphite deposits, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total resources (EDR + Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources + Inferred).

Iron Ore

Major Uses:
Steel and stainless steel manufacture, civil engineering, transport, cast iron, magnets and alloys.

Abbreviations
Mt – million tonnes; $m – million dollars (Australian).

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets. Export income is the sum of ore, crude steel and scrap categories, sourced from Office of the Chief Economist, Resources and Energy Quarterly, September 2023.

Figure 17. Australian iron ore deposits and operating mines, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total resources (EDR + Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources + Inferred).
For clarity, only major or significant deposits are labelled.

Lead and Zinc

Lead

Major Uses:
Batteries, underwater cable sheathing, solder, casting alloys, chemical compounds, weighting and radiation protection.

Abbreviations
Mt Pb – million tonnes of lead content; $m – million dollars (Australian).

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets. Export income is the sum of bullion, refined and concentrate categories, sourced from Office of the Chief Economist, Resources and Energy Quarterly, September 2023.

Zinc

Major Uses:
Galvanised steel for construction and transport industries, die-casts, brass, chemicals, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and electrical equipment.

Abbreviations
Mt Zn – million tonnes of zinc content; $m – million dollars (Australian).

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets. Export income is the sum of refined and ore/concentrate categories, sourced from Office of the Chief Economist, Resources and Energy Quarterly, September 2023.

Figure 18. Australian lead and zinc deposits and operating mines, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total resources (EDR + Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources + Inferred).
For clarity, only major or significant deposits are labelled.

Lithium, Tantalum and Niobium

Lithium

Major Uses:
Lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles and mobile devices, ceramics and glass.

Abbreviations
kt Li – kilotonnes of lithium content; $m – million dollars (Australian).

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets. Export income is the sum of spodumene ore and concentrate sourced from Office of the Chief Economist, Resources and Energy Quarterly, September 2023.

Tantalum

Major Uses:
Capacitors for the electronics and telecommunications industry, resistors, semiconductors, alloys and superalloys, medical and dental applications and chemical process industries.

Abbreviations
kt Ta – kilotonnes of tantalum content; n.a. – not available.

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets.

Niobium

Major Uses:
Micro alloy with iron for use in the construction and automotive industries, superalloys used in aeronautics and energy industries, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanners, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) equipment, glass, jewellery, prosthetics and medical implants.

Abbreviations
kt Nb – kilotonnes of niobium content; n.a. – not available.

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets.

Figure 19. Australian lithium, tantalum and niobium deposits and operating mines, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total resources (EDR + Subeconomic + Inferred).
For clarity, only major or significant deposits are labelled.

Magnesite

Major Uses:
Used to produce magnesium oxide (MgO) for use as a refractory material in the steel industry, animal feeds and fertilisers, flooring compounds, flame retardants and the pharmaceutical industry.

Abbreviations
Mt MgCO₃ – million tonnes of magnesium carbonate (magnesite) content; $m – million dollars (Australian).

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets. Export income from the South Australia Department for Energy and Mining (Report Book 2023/00034) and confidential data from the Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines.

Figure 20. Australian magnesite deposits and operating mines, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total resources (EDR + Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources + Inferred).
For clarity, only major or significant deposits are labelled.

Manganese Ore

Major Uses:
Alloying agent for steel manufacture, rechargeable electric vehicle batteries, plant fertilisers, animal feeds, glass and ceramics.

Abbreviations
Mt – million tonnes; $m – million dollars (Australian).

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets. Available export income sourced from the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government 2022 Major Commodities Resource Data File and the Northern Territory Department of Industry Tourism and Trade, 2022 Northern Territory Mining Production.

Figure 21. Australian manganese deposits and operating mines, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total resources (EDR + Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources + Inferred).
For clarity, only major or significant deposits are labelled.

Mineral Sands

Ilmenite

Major Uses:
Main source of titanium dioxide which is used in paints, plastics, fabrics, rubber, textiles, paper, sunscreen, cosmetics and as fluxing agents.

Abbreviations
Mt – million tonnes; n.a. – not available.

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets.

Rutile

Major Uses:
Production of titanium metals for aircraft, spacecraft, vehicles, surgical implants, sports equipment, desalination plants, and general industrial equipment.

Abbreviations
Mt – million tonnes; n.a. – not available.

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets.

Zircon

Major Uses:
Used as an opacifier for glazes on ceramic tiles, in refractories and for the foundry industry, nuclear reactors, superconducting magnets, chemical industries and cosmetics.

Abbreviations
Mt – million tonnes; n.a. – not available.

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets.

Figure 22. Australian heavy mineral sands deposits and operating mines, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total resources (EDR + Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources + Inferred).
For clarity, only major or significant deposits are labelled.

Molybdenum

Major Uses:
Drills, catalysts, lubricants, fertilisers, structural steel and steel alloys used in engine parts.

Abbreviations
kt Mo – kilotonnes of molybdenum content; n.a. – not available.

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets. Abbreviations Notes

Figure 23. Australian molybdenum deposits and operating mines, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total resources (EDR + Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources + Inferred).
For clarity, only major or significant deposits are labelled.

Nickel

Major Uses:
Stainless and heat-resistant steel production used in chemical industries, motor vehicles, medical applications, electronic engineering and construction. Also non-ferrous alloys, electroplating and lithium-ion batteries.

Abbreviations
Mt Ni – million tonnes of nickel content; $m – million dollars (Australian).

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets. Export income is the sum of refined/ intermediate and ore/concentrate categories sourced from Office of the Chief Economist, Resources and Energy Quarterly, September 2023.

Figure 24. Australian nickel deposits and operating mines, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total resources (EDR + Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources + Inferred).
For clarity, only major or significant deposits are labelled.

Phosphate

Major Uses:
Source of phosphorus, a strategic material. Phosphorous is used for fertilisers, animal feed, food additives, detergents, herbicides, electronics, asphalt, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics. There is no substitute for phosphorus in agriculture.

Abbreviations
Mt – million tonnes of phosphate rock; n.a. – not available.

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets.

Figure 25. Australian phosphate deposits and operating mines, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total resources (EDR + Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources + Inferred).
For clarity, only major or significant deposits are labelled.

Platinum Group Elements

Major Uses:
Jewellery, investment instrument, chemical industries, catalysts and catalytic converters, electronic devices, glass manufacture, industrial crucibles and surgical implants.

Abbreviations
t metal –tonnes of metal content from platinum group elements (platinum, palladium, osmium, iridium, ruthenium, rhodium); $m – million dollars (Australian).

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets. Export income from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government 2022 Major Commodities Resource Data File.

Figure 26. Australian platinum group element deposits, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total resources (EDR + Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources + Inferred).
For clarity, only major or significant deposits are labelled. Not all deposits (e.g. Coronation Hill) are accessible.

Potash

Major Uses:
Fertilisers, animals feeds, ceramics, detergents, pharmaceuticals, de-icing and glass manufacture.

Abbreviations
Mt K₂O – million tonnes of potassium oxide content; $m – million dollars (Australian).

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets.

Figure 27. Australian potash deposits and operating mines, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total resources (EDR + Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources + Inferred).

Rare Earth Elements

Major Uses:
Permanent magnets, motors, metal alloys, electronic and computing equipment, batteries, catalytic converters, petroleum refining, medical imaging, colouring agents, phosphors, lasers and special glass.

Abbreviations
Mt oxide – million tonnes of rare earth oxide plus yttrium oxide; $m – million dollars (Australian).

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets. Export data is a minimum figure as it does not include data from the Northern Territory.Available export income is sourced from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government 2022 Major Commodities Resource Data File.

Figure 28. Australian rare earth element deposits and operating mines, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total resources (EDR + Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources + Inferred).
For clarity, only major or significant deposits are labelled.

Scandium

Major Uses:
Alloys for aerospace industries, solid oxide fuel cells, specialised lighting applications, ceramics, lasers, electronics and sporting goods.

Abbreviations
kt Sc – kilotonnes of scandium content; $m – million dollars (Australian).

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets.

Figure 29. Australian scandium deposits, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total resources (EDR + Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources + Inferred).
For clarity, only major or significant deposits are labelled.

Silver

Major Uses:
Jewellery, silverware, storing monetary value, photographic paper and film, mirrors, water treatment, plastics, textiles and solar panels.

Abbreviations
kt Ag – kilotonnes of silver content; $m – million dollars (Australian).

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets. Export income sourced from Office of the Chief Economist, Resources and Energy Quarterly, September 2023.

Figure 30. Australian silver deposits and operating mines, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total resources (EDR + Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources + Inferred).
For clarity, only major or significant deposits are labelled.

Tin

Major Uses:
Bronze for electrical products and sculpture, solders, steel coatings, metal alloys, electric vehicles, lead-acid batteries, lithium-ion batteries, superconducting magnets, dyes, disinfectants, perfumes, cast iron, fire retardants and pewter.

Abbreviations
kt Sn – kilotonnes of tin content; $m – million dollars (Australian).

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets. Export income is based on tin concentrate and sourced from Office of the Chief Economist, Resources and Energy Quarterly, September 2023.

Figure 31. Australian tin deposits and operating mines, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total resources (EDR + Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources + Inferred).
For clarity, only major or significant deposits are labelled.

Tungsten

Major Uses:
Cemented carbides used in cutting applications and wear-resistant materials, electrodes, filaments (light bulbs), wires and components in electrical, heating, lighting and the aeronautical industry.

Abbreviations
kt W – kilotonnes of tungsten content; n.a. – not available.

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets.

Figure 32. Australian tungsten deposits and operating mines, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total resources (EDR + Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources + Inferred).
For clarity, only major or significant deposits are labelled.

Uranium

Major Uses:
Fuel for nuclear power reactors, medicine, food-processing, space and defence industry applications.

Abbreviations
kt U – kilotonnes of uranium content; $m – million dollars (Australian).

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets. Export income is based on uranium oxide (U3O8) and sourced from Office of the Chief Economist, Resources and Energy Quarterly, September 2023.

Figure 33. Australian uranium deposits and operating mines, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total resources (EDR + Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources + Inferred).
For clarity, only major or significant deposits are labelled.

Vanadium

Major Uses:
Alloyed with iron for high-strength steel applications, ceramics, electronics, textiles, fertilisers, synthetic rubber, batteries and alloys used in nuclear engineering and superconductors.

Abbreviations
kt V – kilotonnes of vanadium content; $m – million dollars (Australian).

Notes
Resource figures are as at 31 December 2022. Operating mines and production are for calendar year 2022. Percentage increases or decreases are in relation to 2021. World rankings are followed by percentage share in brackets.

Figure 34. Australian vanadium deposits, 2022.
Deposit size is based on total resources (EDR + Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources + Inferred).
For clarity, only major or significant deposits are labelled.