Australia Yearbook - 2001

Chapter 17—Mining 685
17.6 PRIVATE MINERAL EXPLORATION EXPENDITURE(a), By State/Territory
1994–95 1995–96 1996–97 1997–98
1998–99
State/Territory
$m
$m
$m
$m
$m
New South Wales 79.2 80.4 94.1 88.2 65.6
Victoria 31.2 42.6 51.8 43.1 37.0
Queensland 176.0 181.0 160.7 133.2 93.8
South Australia 20.9 24.1 35.1 45.0 41.9
Western Australia 495.5 519.5 691.7 660.4 523.1
Tasmania 14.9 18.8 26.0 20.7 11.9
Northern Territory 75.8 93.9 88.9 75.9 64.5
Australia 893.3 960.3 1 148.6 1 066.8 837.8
(a) Excludes expenditure on petroleum exploration.
Source: Mineral And Petroleum Exploration, Australia (8412.0).
17.7 TOTAL METRES DRILLED, By State/Territory—1998–99
NSW Vic. Qld SA WA Tas.
’000 ’000 ’000 ’000 ’000 ’000 ’000 ’000
Drilling method
metres metres metres metres metres metres metres metres
Diamond 162.0 n.p. 119.0 38.0 789.0 n.p. 51.0 1 227.0
Reverse circulation n.p. n.p. 215.0 69.0 2 059.0 n.p. n.p. 2 862.0
Percussion n.p. n.p. 45.0 n.p. n.p. n.p. n.p. 270.0
Rotary air blast 61.0 n.p. 238.0 90.0 1 512.0 — n.p. 2 137.0
Aircore/Vacuum n.p. n.p. n.p. n.p. 1 236.0 — 37.0 1 588.0
Other n.p. — n.p. n.p. n.p. — n.p. 51.0
Total 524.0 n.p. 661.0 305.0 5 759.0 n.p. 544.0 8 134.0
Source: Mineral and Petroleum Exploration, Australia September Quarter 1999 (8412.0).
NT
Aust.
17.8 TOTAL DRILLING EXPENDITURE, By State/Territory—1998–99
NSW Vic. Qld SA WA Tas.
Drilling method
$m $m $m $m $m $m $m $m
Diamond 17.5 n.p. 11.4 n.p. 86.4 n.p. 4.8 131.2
Reverse circulation n.p. n.p. 8.8 2.1 84.3 n.p. n.p. 111.9
Percussion 1.8 n.p. 2.8 n.p. n.p. n.p. n.p. 9.0
Rotary air blast n.p. n.p. 5.6 1.0 16.9 — 2.7 27.1
Aircore/Vacuum n.p. n.p. n.p. n.p. 23.1 — n.p. 31.1
Other n.p. — n.p. n.p. n.p. — n.p. 2.8
Total 26.2 n.p. 30.2 9.6 216.5 n.p. 16.9 313.0
Source: Mineral and Petroleum Exploration, Australia, September Quarter 1999 (8412.0).
NT
Aust.
Drilling methods used in Australia
The most common drilling method used in
1998–99 was reverse circulation, accounting for
35% (2.8 million metres) of the total. This
method incurred the second highest drilling
expenditure, and accounted for 36% ($12m) of
total expenditure. The number of metres drilled
by the rotary air blast method was the second
highest drilling method used with 2.1 million
metres (26% of total), but accounted for only
9% of total expenditure. The method that
accounted for the highest drilling expenditure
was diamond drilling, which accounted for
42% ($131m) of total expenditure.
Tables 17.7 and 17.8 show metres drilled and
expenditure by drilling methods for all areas
(including exploration on production leases
and all other areas) by State and Territory.