Table 1

Table 1. Australia's Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources of selected commodities at operating mines in 2021.

Abbreviations
t = tonne; kt = kilotonne (1,000 t); Mt = million tonne (1,000,000 t).
Where an element symbol follows the unit it refers to contained metal content.

Notes
Reserve Life = Ore Reserves ÷ Production.
Resource Life 1 = Measured and Indicated Resources ÷ Production.
Resource Life 2 = Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources ÷ Production.
Previous editions of this table have included diamond. However, with the closure of the Argyle mine, Australia no longer has any operating diamond mines.

1. The number of operating mines counts individual mines that operated during 2021 and thus contributed to production. Some of these mines may belong to larger, multi-mine operations and some may have closed during or since 2021.
2. The majority of Australian Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources are reported in accordance with the JORC Code, however there are a number of companies that report to foreign stock exchanges using other reporting codes, which are largely equivalent. In addition, Geoscience Australia may hold confidential information for some commodities. NB: Not all operating mines report Ore Reserves. Ore Reserves are as at 31 December 2021.
3. Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources are inclusive of the Ore Reserves. NB: Not all operating mines report Mineral Resources. Mineral Resources are as at 31 December 2021.
4. Inferred Mineral Resources are as at 31 December 2021. NB: Not all operating mines report Mineral Resources.
5. Mining production from Resources and Energy Quarterly, September 2022, published by the Office of the Chief Economist, Department of Industry, Science and Resources unless otherwise stated. Production data often have a higher level of certainty than reserve and resource estimates and, thus, may be presented with more significant figures.
6. Antimony production from company reports (Mandalay Resources Ltd).
7. Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources for black coal are presented on a recoverable basis (these are Geoscience Australia estimates unless provided by the company).
8. Mine production refers to raw coal.
9. Cobalt production data from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government, 2021 Major commodities resources file.
10. Lithium production data (tonnes of spodumene concentrates) from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government, 2021 Major commodities resources file. Production of lithium calculated assuming 6% Li₂O in spodumene concentrates.
11. Australian manganese production from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government (2021 Major commodities resources file) and company reports (OM Holdings Limited, South 32 Limited).
12. Australian mineral sands production data based on estimates from New South Wales Government Department of Regional NSW (pers. comm.), Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety Western Australian Government (2021 Major commodities resources file), South Australia Department for Energy (Mining Report Book 2022/00002), Northern Territory Department of Industry Tourism and Trade (2021 Territory Mining Production) and Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines (Queensland Annual Minerals Summary 2020-21).
13. Rare earths comprise rare earth oxides (REO) and yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃).
14. Rare earths production is based on Western Australian production of concentrates from Mount Weld (15,616 t) and from 58,000 t of zircon - monazite concentrate produced at Eneabba, assuming 20% of concentrate is monazite and 60% of monazite is REO (6,960 t).
15. Major silver producing mines only; many gold and copper mines also produce silver as a by-product but these are not counted here.
16. The Office of the Chief Economist reports tin production of 8.8 kt in 2021. Renison, Australia’s only significant tin mine, reports 8.5 kt. Additional production is as by-product from other operations such as Greenbushes.
17. Uranium production from company reports (BHP Ltd, Energy Resources Australia Ltd, Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd).

Table 2

Table 2. Australia's Estimated Ore Reserves¹ as at December 2021.

Abbreviations
t = tonne; kt = kilotonnes (1,000 t); Mt = million tonnes (1,000,000 t); Mc = million carats (1,000,000 carats); n.a. = not available; PGE = platinum group elements (platinum, palladium, osmium, iridium, ruthenium, rhodium).
Where an element symbol follows the unit it refers to contained metal content.

Notes
Reserve Life = Ore Reserves ÷ Production.
Figures are rounded so Proved, Probable and Proven & Probable Ore Reserves may not add up to Total Ore Reserves exactly.

1. The majority of Australian Ore Reserves are reported in accordance with the JORC Code, however there are a number of companies that report to foreign stock exchanges using other reporting codes, which are largely equivalent. In addition, Geoscience Australia may hold confidential information for some commodities.
2. ‘Proven & Probable Ore Reserves’ is a reporting category distinct from 'Proved Reserves' and 'Probable Reserves'. It is no longer supported by the JORC Code but because some overseas reporting codes still use this category, and some historical resources fall into this category, it is included in this table.
3. Mining production from Resources and Energy Quarterly, September 2022, published by the Office of the Chief Economist, Department of Industry, Science and Resources unless otherwise stated. Production data often have a higher level of certainty than reserve and resource estimates and, thus, may be presented with more significant figures.
4. Antimony production from company reports (Mandalay Resources Ltd).
5. Black coal production refers to raw coal.
6. Australian production of brown coal is sourced from the Victorian State Government, Earth Resources Regulation, Annual Statistical Report FY 2020-21.
7. Cobalt production data from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government, 2021 Major commodities resources file.
8. Lithium production data (tonnes of spodumene concentrates) from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government, 2021 Major commodities resources file. Production of lithium calculated assuming 6% Li₂O in spodumene concentrates.
9. The Department for Energy and Mining, South Australia (Report Book 2022/00002) reported magnesite production of 5,149 t in 2021. The Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines (Queensland Annual Mineral Summary 2020-21) reported magnesite production of 888,474 t in 2020-21.
10. Australian manganese production from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government (2021 Major commodities resources file) and company reports (OM Holdings Limited, South 32 Limited).
11. Australian mineral sands production data based on estimates from New South Wales Government Department of Regional NSW (pers. comm.), Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety Western Australian Government (2021 Major commodities resources file), South Australia Department for Energy (Mining Report Book 2022/00002), Northern Territory Department of Industry Tourism and Trade (2021 Territory Mining Production) and Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines (Queensland Annual Minerals Summary 2020-21).
12. There are no mines producing niobium as a primary product in Australia. However, it is likely produced as a by-product at some lithium/tantalum operations, but these data have not been reported.
13. Platinum and palladium production data from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government, 2021 Major commodities resources file.
14. Phosphate rock is reported as being economic at grades ranging from 8.7% to 30.2% P₂O₅.
15. Geoscience Australia estimate based on reported mining production from Christmas Island—435,737 t in 2021, South Australia—694 t in 2021 (South Australia Department for Energy and Mining Report Book 2022/00002) and Queensland—24 t in 2020–21 (Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Queensland Annual Mineral Summary 2020–21).
16. Australian potash production from company reports (Kalium Lakes Ltd).
17. Rare earths comprise rare earth oxides (REO) and yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃).
18. Rare earths production is based on Western Australian production of concentrates from Mount Weld (15,616 t) and from 58,000 t of zircon - monazite concentrate produced at Eneabba, assuming 20% of concentrate is monazite and 60% of monazite is REO (6,960 t).
19. Tantalum production data from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government, 2021 Major commodities resources file. Production represents a maximum as no correction has been made for actual tantalite concentration in reported concentrates.
20. Tungsten production from company correspondence (Tasmania Mines Pty Ltd) and company reports (EQ Resources Ltd).
21. Uranium production from company reports (BHP Ltd, Energy Resources Australia Ltd, Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd).

Table 3

Table 3. Australia's Identified Mineral Resources as at December 2021.

Abbreviations
t = tonne; kt = kilotonnes (1,000 t); Mt = million tonnes (1,000,000 t); Mc = million carats (1,000,000 carats); n.a. = not available; PGE = platinum group elements (platinum, palladium, osmium, iridium, ruthenium, rhodium).
Where an element symbol follows the unit it refers to contained metal content.

Notes

1. Economic Demonstrated Resources (EDR) predominantly comprise Ore Reserves and most Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources that have been reported in accordance with the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) Code to the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). In addition, some reserves and resources have been reported using other reporting codes to foreign stock exchanges and Geoscience Australia may hold confidential data for some commodities.
2. Total Inferred Resources in economic, subeconomic and undifferentiated categories.
3. Accessible Economic Demonstrated Resources (AEDR) is the portion of total EDR that is accessible for mining. AEDR does not include resources that are inaccessible for mining because of environmental restrictions, government policies or military lands.
4. Australian mine production from Resources and Energy Quarterly, September 2022 published by the Office of the Chief Economist, Department of Industry, Science and Resources unless otherwise stated. Production data often have a higher level of certainty than reserve and resource estimates and, thus, may be presented with more significant figures.
5. World economic resources from Mineral Commodity Summaries 2022 published by the USGS and adjusted with Geoscience Australia data, unless otherwise stated.
6. World production from Mineral Commodity Summaries 2022 published by the USGS and adjusted with Geoscience Australia data, unless otherwise stated.
7. Australian antimony production from company reports (Mandalay Resources Ltd).
8. Australian black coal production refers to raw coal.
9. World economic resources of black coal from the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Germany (Energy Study 2021).
10. World mine production of black coal from the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Germany (Energy Study 2021).
11. Australian production of brown coal is sourced from the Victorian State Government, Earth Resources Regulation, Annual Statistical Report FY 2020-21.
12. World economic resources of brown coal from the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Germany (Energy Study 2021).
13. World mine production of brown coal from the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Germany (Energy Study 2021).
14. World economic resources and mine production are presented as chromite ore.
15. Australian cobalt production data from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government, 2021 Major commodities resources file.
16. Australian diamond production from Office of the Chief Economist (Resources and Energy Quarterly September 2022).
17. World resource figures are for industrial diamonds only, no data provided for resources of gem diamonds.
18. World mine production of fluorine excludes the USA.
19. Australian lithium production data (tonnes of spodumene concentrates) from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety Western Australian Government, 2021 Major commodities resources file. Production of lithium calculated assuming 6% Li₂O in spodumene concentrates.
20. The Department for Energy and Mining, South Australia (Report Book 2022/00002) reported magnesite production of 5,149 t in 2021. The Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines (Queensland Annual Mineral Summary 2020-21) reported magnesite production of 888,474 t in 2020-21.
21. World mine production excludes the USA.
22. Australian manganese production from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government (2021 Major commodities resources file) and company reports (OM Holdings Limited, South 32 Limited).
23. World economic resources and mine production of manganese are published by the United States Geological Survey as manganese content, not manganese ore.
24. Australian mineral sands production data based on estimates from New South Wales Government Department of Regional NSW (pers. comm.), Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety Western Australian Government (2021 Major commodities resources file), South Australia Department for Energy (Mining Report Book 2022/00002), Northern Territory Department of Industry Tourism and Trade (2021 Territory Mining Production) and Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines (Queensland Annual Minerals Summary 2020-21).
25. There are no mines producing niobium as a primary product in Australia. However, it is likely produced as a by-product at some lithium/tantalum operations, but these data have not been reported.
26. Australian platinum and palladium production data from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government, 2021 Major commodities resources file.
27. World mine production is platinum and palladium only.
28. Phosphate rock is reported as being economic at grades ranging from 8.7% to 30.2% P₂O₅.
29. Geoscience Australia estimate based on reported mining production from Christmas Island—435,737 t in 2021, South Australia—694 t in 2021 (South Australia Department for Energy and Mining Report Book 2022/00002) and Queensland—24 t in 2020–21 (Queensland Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Queensland Annual Mineral Summary 2020–21).
30. Australian potash production from company reports (Kalium Lakes Ltd).
31. Rare earths comprise rare earth oxides (REO) and yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃).
32. Rare earths production is based on Western Australian production of concentrates from Mount Weld (15,616 t) and from 58,000 t of zircon - monazite concentrate produced at Eneabba, assuming 20% of concentrate is monazite and 60% of monazite is REO (6,960 t).
33. Australian tantalum production data from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government, 2021 Major commodities resources file. Production represents a maximum as no correction has been made for actual tantalite concentration in reported concentrates.
34. Tungsten production from company correspondence (Tasmania Mines Pty Ltd) and company reports (EQ Resources Ltd).
35. Australian uranium production from company reports (BHP Ltd, Energy Resources Australia Ltd, Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd).
36. World economic resources from the International Atomic Energy Agency estimate for Reasonably Assured Resources recoverable at costs of less than US$130/kg, personal communication, October 2022.
37. World production of uranium in 2021 from World Nuclear Organisation (Uranium Production, Figures, 2012-2021, July 2022 update).

Table 4

Table 4. Changes in Australia's Economic Demonstrated Resources (EDR) and production from 2020 to 2021.

Abbreviations
t = tonne; kt = kilotonnes (1,000 t); Mt = million tonnes (1,000,000 t); Mc = million carats (1,000,000 carats); n.a. = not available; PGE = platinum group elements (platinum, palladium, osmium, iridium, ruthenium, rhodium).
Where an element symbol follows the unit it refers to contained metal content.

Notes

1. Rare earths comprise rare earth oxides (REO) and yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃).

Table 5

Table 5. World ranking for Australia's mineral resources (EDR) and production as at December 2021.

Abbreviations
PGE = platinum group elements (platinum, palladium, osmium, iridium, ruthenium, rhodium).

Notes
World rankings determined by comparing Australia’s EDR and production to economic resources and production reported for other countries (see sources below). Undocumented resources and production are not used in the comparisons.
Minor = <1% of global economic resources and/or production, therefore Australia’s ranking unable to be determined.
Unknown = Global economic resources are too opaque for comparisions (e.g., there are large, undocumented tantalum resources in the Congo) or Australian production is likely to have occurred during the year but quantities are not publically available.

Sources
United States Geological Survey (Mineral Commodity Summaries 2022), OECD Nuclear Energy Agency/International Atomic Energy Agency (personal communication 2022), World Nuclear Organisation (Uranium Production, Figures, 2012-2021, July 2022 update). Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Germany (Energy Study 2021) and Geoscience Australia.

Table 6

Table 6. Average reserve life and resource life (years) for selected commodities as at December 2021.

Notes
Reserve and resource life for each mineral commodity are calculated by dividing the inventory by production. The resulting ratio is a snapshot in time that can only be used for general impressions because it is an average and it assumes (1) that production rates in the future will remain the same as those used in the calculation, (2) deposits deemed economic/uneconomic remain so in the future and (3) that depleted resources are never replaced.
Previous editions of this table have included diamond. However, with the closure of the Argyle mine, Australia no longer has any operating diamond mines.

1. Operating mines includes all mines that operated during 2021 and thus contributed to production (see Table 1).
2. Ore Reserves for operating mines, as reported in accordance with the JORC Code, plus non-JORC Code equivalents (see Table 1).
3. Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources for operating mines are inclusive of Ore Reserves, as reported in accordance with the JORC Code, plus non-JORC Code-equivalents (see Table 1).
4. All Resources for Operating Mines includes Measured, Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resources, inclusive of Ore Reserves, as reported in accordance with the JORC Code, plus non-JORC Code-equivalents (see Table 1).
5. Ore Reserves for all deposits as reported in accordance with the JORC Code, plus non-JORC Code equivalents (see Table 2).
6. AEDR for all deposits = Accessible Economic Demonstrated Resources (see Table 3). Figures rounded to nearest five years.
7. All Resources for all deposits includes EDR, Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources and Inferred Resources (see Table 3). Figures rounded to nearest five years.

Table 7

Table 7. Comparisons of EDR of major commodities at Australian mines to total EDR as at December 2021.

Abbreviations
t = tonne; kt = kilotonnes (1,000 t); Mt = million tonnes (1,000,000 t).
Where an element symbol follows the unit it refers to contained metal content.

Notes
All Mines = mines that are currently operating, placed on care and maintenance or under development.
'Deposits with EDR’ is inclusive of the mines.
Previous editions of this table have included diamond. However, with the closure of the Argyle mine, Australia no longer has any operating diamond mines.

Table 8

Table 8. Comparisons of Ore Reserves of major commodities to total EDR and AEDR as at December 2021.

Abbreviations
t = tonne; kt = kilotonnes (1,000 t); Mt = million tonnes (1,000,000 t).
Where an element symbol follows the unit it refers to contained metal content.
EDR = Economic Demonstrated Resources.
AEDR = Accessible Economic Demonstrated Resources.

Notes
Previous editions of this table have included diamond. However, with the closure of the Argyle mine, Australia no longer has any operating diamond mines.

Table 9

Table 9. Distribution of EDR of major commodities in Australia as at December 2021.

Abbreviations
t = tonne; kt = kilotonnes (1,000 t); Mt = million tonnes (1,000,000 t).
Where an element symbol follows the unit it refers to contained metal content.
EDR = Economic Demonstrated Resources.

Notes
For classification as a mineral deposit there must be, at a minimum, an Inferred Resource compliant with the JORC Code (or equivalent) or, in some cases, a historical (pre-JORC) resource estimate.

Table 10

Table 10. Export value ($million) of mineral commodities, resources and energy, merchandise and goods and services, 2012 to 2021.

Notes
Total mineral exports includes: metallic minerals, energy minerals (coal and uranium), gemstones, mineral sands and refined minerals (concentrates, bullion, ingot metals).

Source
Office of the Chief Economist (Resources and Energy Quarterly September 2022).

Table 11

Table 11. Australian export volume and values of mineral and metal commodities 2021.

Notes
Total mineral exports earnings in 2021 were $295,088 million (see Table 10).

Source
Office of the Chief Economist (Resources and Energy Quarterly September 2022).

Table 12

Table 12. Changes in Australian mineral and metal export volumes, earnings and values from 2020 to 2021, along with percentage share of export earnings in 2020 and 2021.