AMER 2025 Australian Mineral Exploration Review 2025

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A review of exploration expenditure, commodity trends and significant drilling results in Australia

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Solar Power Station, Australia
AMER 2025 at a Glance

Australia has a rich and diverse mineral endowment and long history of discovering high-quality mineral resources.

AMER 2025 at a Glance Learn more
Photograph of a drilling site in a dry, flat landscape with scattered vegetation under a clear sky. The site includes a tall drilling rig, multiple white modular buildings, several trucks, and heavy machinery arranged on reddish-brown soil.
Introduction

Australia’s precompetitive geoscience increases geological knowledge to further stimulate exploration.

Introduction Learn more
Photograph showing a person examining cylindrical rock core samples arranged in labelled trays, likely for geological or mineral analysis. The person holds a magnifying lens in one hand and points to a specific core sample with the other, highlighting detailed inspection of rock textures and features.
Mineral Exploration expenditure and drilling trends

Mineral exploration expenditure totalled $3.9 billion and 10,659,000 metres were drilled.

Mineral Exploration expenditure and drilling trends Learn more
Photograph of a rough mineral specimen featuring metallic, shiny silver and deep reddish-brown crystalline surfaces. The specimen displays a complex texture with reflective patches and a small label attached on the left side.
Maiden Mineral Resources

Of 69 maiden Mineral Resources, 32 contain critical minerals and 19 contain strategic materials.

Maiden Mineral Resources Learn more
Photograph showing a person holding a smartphone displaying a navigation app with a blue route highlighted on a map. The screen indicates directions for a trip to
Significant drill results – critical minerals

Critical minerals are minerals or elements essential to modern technologies, economies or national security and that have supply chains at risk of disruption.

Significant drill results – critical minerals Learn more
Photograph showing a series of tall electrical transmission towers carrying high-voltage power lines across a flat, open landscape under a partly cloudy sky. The image highlights infrastructure for long-distance electricity distribution with multiple towers aligned in perspective, emphasizing scale and connectivity.
Significant drill results – strategic materials

These elements are important to economic resilience, industrial capability and emerging supply chains.

Significant drill results – strategic materials Learn more
Photograph of a polished rock slab displaying intricate, swirling brown and tan banding patterns typical of sedimentary formations. A black, white, and blue checkered scale bar below provides size reference, highlighting the rock's layered texture and natural mineral variations.
Significant drill results – precious metals and other commodities

These commodities illustrate the breadth of Australia’s exploration activity beyond critical minerals and strategic materials.

Significant drill results – precious metals and other commodities Learn more
Photograph of a wind farm at dusk featuring multiple wind turbines spread across a dark landscape under a fading sky. The turbines vary in size and are silhouetted against the gradient sky, highlighting renewable energy infrastructure in a natural setting.
Appendices

Wind turbines use rare earth elements, particularly neodymium and dysprosium, in high-strength permanent magnets that improve generator efficiency and reliability.

Appendices Learn more

Department of Industry, Science and Resources
Minister for Resources and Minister for Northern Australia: the Hon Madeleine King MP
Secretary: Julia Pickworth (a/g)

Geoscience Australia
Chief Executive Officer: Melissa Harris PSM

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ISSN: 2201-6821 (Online)
ISSN: 2204-4523 (Print)
eCat: 151209

Bibliographical reference: Normington, V., Boyd, J., and Pheeney, J. 2025. Australian Mineral Exploration Review 2025. Geoscience Australia, Canberra. https://pid.geoscience.gov.au/dataset/ga/151209

Acknowledgements: Cartography by Bianca Reese and Silvio Mezzomo, design by Douglas Warouw and Bailey Clarke and additional contributions by Allison Britt, Callum Kucka, Lauren Zappala, Anthony Senior and Tamara Alden.

Cover photograph: Geoscientists from Geoscience Australia observing drilling activities at Geoscience Australia’s Enniskillen 1 stratigraphic drill site, central-west Queensland. Image by James Cropper, Geoscience Australia.