Australia's Identified Mineral Resources 2026 Preliminary Tables

Table 1. Australia's Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources of selected commodities at operating mines in 2025.

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 Mineral Resources ÷ Production.
Resource Life 2 = (Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources + Inferred Mineral Resources) ÷ Production.

1. The number of operating mines counts individual mines that operated during 2025 and thus contributed to production. Some of these mines may belong to larger, multi-mine operations and some may have closed during or since 2025.
2. The majority of Australian Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources are reported in compliance 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. Ore Reserves are as of 31 December 2025. NB: Not all operating mines report Ore Reserves.
3. Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources are inclusive of the Ore Reserves. Mineral Resources are as of 31 December 2025. NB: Not all operating mines report Mineral Resources.
4. Inferred Mineral Resources are as of 31 December 2025. NB: Not all operating mines report Mineral Resources.
5. Mining production from Office of the Chief Economist, Department of Industry, Science and Resources (Resources and Energy Quarterly, June 2026), 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 and Alkane 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 saleable coal.
9. Cobalt production data from Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration, Western Australia (2025 Major Commodities Resource Data File).
10. Production of lithium (spodumene) is sourced from the Office of the Chief Economist, Department of Industry, Science and Resources (Resources and Energy Quarterly, June 2026), production of lithium estimated assuming 6% Li₂O in spodumene concentrates.
11. Australian magnesite production from the Department for Energy and Mining, South Australia (Report Book 2026/00004), the Queensland Department of Resources (Annual Mineral Summary 2021-22 to 2024-25) and assumed minor production from New South Wales.
12. Australian manganese ore production from Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration, Western Australia (2025 Major Commodities Resource Data File) and the Northern Territory Geological Survey (Mining developments in the Northern Territory February 2026). Geoscience Australia estimates 1.1 Mt contained manganese metal produced from 2.2 Mt ore.
13. Australian mineral sands production data based on estimates from company reports (Tronox); Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration, Western Australia (2025 Major Commodities Resource Data File); Department for Energy and Mining, South Australia (Report Book 2026/00004); and the Northern Territory Geological Survey (Mining developments in the Northern Territory February 2026).
14. Molybdenum production is a Geoscience Australia estimate based on company correspondence.
15. Rare earths comprise rare earth oxides (REO) and yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃).
16. Rare earths production data from Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration, Western Australia (2025 Major Commodities Resource Data File).
17. Major silver producing mines only; many gold and copper mines also produce silver as a by-product but these are not counted here.
18. The Office of the Chief Economist reports tin production of 11.1 kt in 2025. Renison, Australia's only significant tin mine, reports 10.7 kt. Additional production is a by-product from other operations such as Greenbushes.
19. Tungsten production is a Geoscience Australia estimate based on company reports (EQ Resources Ltd and Group 6 Metals Ltd).
20. Uranium production from company reports (BHP Ltd, Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd and Boss Energy Ltd).

Table 2. Australia's Estimated Ore Reserves¹ as at December 2025.

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 compliance 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 Office of the Chief Economist, Department of Industry, Science and Resources (Resources and Energy Quarterly, June 2026), 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 and Alkane Resources Ltd).
5. Bismuth is produced as a by-product from the Port Pirie lead smelter in South Australia but quantities are not available.
6. Black coal production refers to saleable coal.
7. Australian production of brown coal is sourced from Resources Victoria (Annual Statistical Report FY2024-25).
8. Cobalt production data from Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration, Western Australia (2025 Major Commodities Resource Data File).
9. Australia's high purity alumina ore is primarily kaolin, but other ore types also occur.
10. Hematite ore and magnetite ore do not add up exactly to total iron ore resources due to a small number of data discrepancies.
11. Production of lithium (spodumene) is sourced from the Office of the Chief Economist, Department of Industry, Science and Resources (Resources and Energy Quarterly, June 2026), production of lithium estimated assuming 6% Li₂O in spodumene concentrates.
12. Australian magnesite production from the Department for Energy and Mining, South Australia (Report Book 2026/00004), the Queensland Department of Resources (Annual Mineral Summary 2021-22 to 2024-25) and assumed minor production from New South Wales.
13. Australian manganese ore production from Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration, Western Australia (2025 Major Commodities Resource Data File); and the Northern Territory Geological Survey (Mining developments in the Northern Territory February 2026). Geoscience Australia estimates 1.1 Mt contained manganese metal produced from 2.2 Mt ore.
14. Australian mineral sands production data based on estimates from company reports (Tronox); Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration, Western Australia (2025 Major Commodities Resource Data File); Department for Energy and Mining, South Australia (Report Book 2026/00004); and the Northern Territory Geological Survey (Mining developments in the Northern Territory February 2026).
15. Molybdenum production is a Geoscience Australia estimate based on company correspondence.
16. There are no mines producing niobium as a primary product in Australia but it is likely produced in concentrate or as a by-product at some lithium/tantalum operations, but these data have not been reported.
17. Production of PGE ceased in 2025 with the closure of Western Australian nickel mines.
18. Phosphate rock is reported as being economic at grades ranging from 8.7% to 30.9% P₂O₅.
19. Phosphate rock production based on >500,000 t from Christmas Island (PRL Group Ltd reports); >97,511 t from Ardmore (Centrex Ltd, PRL Group Ltd reports); 500 t recorded by the Department for Energy and Mining, South Australia (Report Book 2026/00004); and Geoscience Australia estimation of approximately 1,750,000 t from Phosphate Hill based on ammonium phosphate production of 769,000 t (Dyno Nobel Ltd, Annual Report 2025).
20. Potash production in 2025 was 10,013 tonnes. Data from Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration, Western Australia (2025 Major Commodities Resource Data File).
21. Rare earths comprise rare earth oxides (REO) and yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃).
22. Rare earths production data from Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration, Western Australia (2025 Major Commodities Resource Data File); .
23. Tantalum production data from Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration, Western Australia (2025 Major Commodities Resource Data File). Production represents a maximum as no correction has been made for actual tantalite concentration in reported concentrates.
24. Tungsten production is a Geoscience Australia estimate based on company reports (EQ Resources Ltd and Group 6 Metals Ltd).
25. Uranium production from company reports (BHP Ltd, Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd and Boss Energy Ltd).

Table 3. Australia's Identified Mineral Resources as at December 2025.

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. Mining production from Office of the Chief Economist, Department of Industry, Science and Resources (Resources and Energy Quarterly, June 2026), 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 the United States Geological Survey (Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026) and adjusted with Geoscience Australia data, unless otherwise stated.
6. World mine production from the United States Geological Survey (Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026) and adjusted with Geoscience Australia data, unless otherwise stated.
7. Australian antimony production from company reports (Mandalay Resources Ltd and Alkane Resources Ltd).
8. Bismuth is produced as a by-product from the Port Pirie lead smelter in South Australia but quantities are not available.
9. Australian black coal resources and production are presented as in situ resources with raw mine production, and recoverable resources with saleable mine production.
10. World economic resources and world production of black coal (data for 2023) from the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Germany (BGR Energy Data 2024 - German and Global Energy Supplies; Hanover) issued December 2024.
11. Australian production of brown coal is sourced from the Victorian State Government, Resources Victoria, Annual Statistical Report FY2024-25.
12. World economic resources and world production of brown coal (data for 2023) from the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Germany (BGR Energy Data 2024 - German and Global Energy Supplies; Hanover) issued December 2024.
13. World economic resources and mine production are presented as chromite ore.
14. Cobalt production data from Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration, Western Australia (2025 Major Commodities Resource Data File).
15. World resource figures are for industrial diamonds only, no data provided for resources of gem diamonds.
16. World mine production of fluorine excludes the USA.
17. Australia's high purity alumina ore is primarily kaolin, but other ore types also occur.
18. Hematite ore and magnetite ore do not add up exactly to total iron ore resources due to a small number of data discrepancies.
19. Production of lithium (spodumene) is sourced from the Office of the Chief Economist, Department of Industry, Science and Resources (Resources and Energy Quarterly, June 2026), production of lithium estimated assuming 6% Li₂O in spodumene concentrates.
20. Australian magnesite production from Department for Energy and Mining, South Australia (Report Book 2026/00004), the Queensland Department of Resources (Annual Mineral Summary 2021-22 to 2024-25) and assumed minor production from New South Wales.
21. World magnesite mine production excludes the USA.
22. Australian manganese ore production from Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration, Western Australia (2025 Major Commodities Resource Data File); and Northern Territory Geological Survey (Mining developments in the Northern Territory February 2026). Geoscience Australia estimates 1.1 Mt contained manganese metal produced from 2.2 Mt ore.
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 company reports (Tronox); Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration, Western Australia (2025 Major Commodities Resource Data File); Department for Energy and Mining, South Australia (Report Book 2026/00004); and Northern Territory Geological Survey (Mining developments in the Northern Territory February 2026).
25. Molybdenum production is a Geoscience Australia estimate based on company correspondence.
26. There are no mines producing niobium as a primary product in Australia but it is likely produced in concentrate or as a by-product at some lithium/tantalum operations, but these data have not been reported.
27. Production of PGE ceased in 2025 with the closure of Western Australian nickel mines.
28. World mine production is platinum and palladium only.
29. Phosphate rock is reported as being economic at grades ranging from 8.7% to 30.9% P₂O₅.
30. Phosphate rock production based on >500,000 t from Christmas Island (PRL Group Ltd reports); >97,511 t from Ardmore (Centrex Ltd, PRL Group Ltd reports); 500 t recorded by the Department for Energy and Mining, South Australia (Report Book 2026/00004); and Geoscience Australia estimation of approximately 1,750,000 t from Phosphate Hill based on ammonium phosphate production of 769,000 t (Dyno Nobel Ltd, Annual Report 2025).
31. Potash production in 2025 was 10,013 tonnes. Data from Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration, Western Australia (2025 Major Commodities Resource Data File).
32. Rare earths comprise rare earth oxides (REO) and yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃).
33. Rare earths production data from Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration, Western Australia (2025 Major Commodities Resource Data File).
34. Australia's silicon resources are represented as silica, primarily in the form of high purity quartz.
35. Tantalum production data from Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration, Western Australia (2025 Major Commodities Resource Data File). Production represents a maximum as no correction has been made for actual tantalite concentration in reported concentrates.
36. In Australia, titanium resources occur in both heavy mineral sands and hard rock deposits. In heavy mineral sands, titanium is mainly found in the minerals ilmenite and rutile. In hard rock deposits, titanium is primarily hosted in titanomagnetite, although other titanium-bearing minerals may also be present.
37. Tungsten production is a Geoscience Australia estimate based on company reports (EQ Resources Ltd and Group 6 Metals Ltd).
38. Accessibility of uranium deposits were reclassified to reflect current state and territory legislation.
39. Australian uranium production from company reports (BHP Ltd, Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd and Boss Energy Ltd).
40. World economic resources and production as of 1 January 2025 from the Nuclear Energy Agency and the International Atomic Energy Agency (Uranium 2026: Resources, Production and Demand). Uranium EDR based on Reasonably Assured Resources recoverable at costs of less than US$130/kgU.

Table 4. Changes in Australia's Economic Demonstrated Resources (EDR), World Economic Resources and Australian and world production from 2024 to 2025.

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. World production data in 2024 has been reestimated for some commodities since the previous edition of Australia's Identified Mineral Resources owing to new information.
2. EDR and production for bismuth, indium, rhenium, silicon and titanium were not published in the previous edition.
3. In situ coal EDR and raw coal production.
4. Recoverable coal EDR and saleable production.
5. Molybdenum EDR in 2024 has been reassessed since the previous edition of Australia's Identified Mineral Resources.
6. Rare earths comprise rare earth oxides (REO) and yttrium oxide (Y₂O₃).

Table 6. Average reserve life and resource life (years) for selected commodities as at December 2025.

Notes

Reserve and resource life for each mineral commodity are calculated by dividing the inventory by Australian 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.

1. Operating mines includes all mines that operated during 2025 and thus contributed to production (see Table 1).
2. Ore Reserves for operating mines, as reported with the JORC Code, plus non-JORC Code equivalents (see Table 1).
3. Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources for operating mines inclusive of Ore Reserves, as reported 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 with the JORC Code, plus non-JORC Code-equivalents (see Table 1).
5. Ore Reserves for all deposits as reported 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. World Economic Resources is calculated by dividing World Economic Resources by World Mine Production (see Table 3). Figures rounded to nearest five years.

Table 7. Comparisons of EDR of commodities at Australian mines to total EDR as at December 2025.

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.

Table 8. Comparisons of Ore Reserves of commodities to total EDR and AEDR as at December 2025.

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.

Table 9. Distribution of EDR of commodities in Australia as at December 2025.

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. Export value ($million) of mineral commodities, resources and energy, merchandise and goods and services, 2016 to 2025.

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 June 2026).

Table 11. Australian export volume and values of mineral and metal commodities 2025.

Notes

Total mineral exports earnings in 2025 were $315,841 million (see Table 10).

Source

Office of the Chief Economist (Resources and Energy Quarterly September 2026).

Table 12. Changes in Australian mineral and metal export volumes, earnings and values from 2024 to 2025, along with percentage share of export earnings in 2024 and 2025.

Notes

Total mineral exports earnings in 2025 were $315,841 million (see Table 10). Minor refers to changes of less than 0.1%.

Source

Office of the Chief Economist (Resources and Energy Quarterly June 2026).