australia's identified mineral resources 2004 - Geoscience Australia

AUSTRALIA’S IDENTIFIED MINERAL RESOURCES 2004
The EDR of zircon increased by 9.4% from 29.5 Mt in 2002 to 32.2 Mt in 2003, the result of
successful exploration especially in WA, where zircon resources increased along the Northern Swan
Coastal Plain and the Southern Swan Coastal Plain by 12% and 18%, respectively. Increases in EDR of
zircon occurred in the Murray Basin particularly in Victoria and New South Wales (32% and 17%,
respectively). Western Australia and Queensland together have 80% of Australia’s EDR of zircon
(down from 81% in 2002).
Australia’s subeconomic demonstrated resources of ilmenite, rutile and zircon remained unchanged
in 2003 at 51 Mt, 12 Mt and 19 Mt, respectively. Over 97% of these resources are recorded in the
paramarginal category, and are associated with the WIM deposits in the Murray Basin in Victoria.
The WIM deposits also contain 14.38 Mt of leucoxene.
Inferred resources of ilmenite fell marginally to 106.8 Mt from 107 Mt in 2002. There was an
increase of 4% in Victoria ilmenite resources due to successful ongoing exploration in the Murray
Basin. In Western Australia, an increase of 16% in ilmenite resources was the outcome of increased
exploration on the Northern Swan Coastal Plain, north of Perth, and the Scott Coastal Plain. These
increases in resources were offset by the decrease in New South Wales (down by 24%) brought
about by the upgrading of that State’s ilmenite resources to EDR. Victoria is the main holder of the
inferred ilmenite resources with 39% of the Australian total followed by New South Wales and
Western Australia (each with about 22%). Inferred ilmenite resources in Queensland, with 11% of
Australia’s total, remained essentially unchanged in 2003.
Inferred resources of rutile fell by 4% with the decreases in New South Wales and South Australia
offsetting increases in Victoria and Western Australia. Victoria is the main holder of inferred rutile
resources with 55% of the Australian total followed by New South Wales (29%) and South Australia (8%).
Inferred resources of zircon declined by 5% with the decreases in New South Wales and South
Australia offsetting the increases in Victoria and Western Australia. Victoria is the main holder of
zircon inferred resources with 58% of the Australian total, followed by New South Wales (20%),
Western Australia (9%) and South Australia (7%).
Accessible EDR
Some 17%, 27% and 26% (compared with 18%, 24% and 28% in 2002) of Australia’s total EDR of
ilmenite, rutile and zircon, respectively, are inaccessible for mining. These resources are in areas that
are quarantined from mining and now largely incorporated into national parks. These areas include
Moreton Island, Bribie Island, Fraser Island, Cooloola sand mass north of Noosa, Byfield sand mass
and Shoalwater Bay area in Queensland; and Yuraygir, Bundjalung, Hat Head and Myall Lakes
National Parks in NSW.
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JORC Reserves
Approximately 23% of ilmenite, 21% rutile and 21% zircon AEDR comprise JORC Code reserve. The
remaining represents resources assessed by Geoscience Australia from the measured and indicated
categories of industry reported mineral resources, as defined under the Code and other classification
systems used by companies not listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.
Duration of Resources
At Australia’s 2003 rate of production, AEDR of ilmenite, rutile and zircon are sufficient for an
average of 85, 90 and 50 years respectively. However, resources in the JORC Code reserves categories
are adequate for only 14 years for ilmenite, 21 years for rutile, and 12 years for zircon.
Exploration
According to quarterly ABS figures, expenditure on exploration for mineral sands in 2003 was
estimated at $26.3 million (compared with $30.7 million in 2002). This represents a decrease of about
14% over the previous year. Comprehensive State-by-State data are not published by ABS, however it
is likely that the expenditure was shared between the North and South Swan Coastal Plains of
Western Australia and the Murray Basin, where EDR of mineral sands have increased.