Australia's Identified Mineral Resources 2023 Appendices
Last updated:1 March 2024
Appendix 1. JORC Code
The following terminology and definitions are used by the Joint Ore Reserves Committee (JORC) Code for reporting of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (2012 Edition). A full copy of the JORC Code can be found at jorc.org.
Mineral Resource
A 'Mineral Resource' is a concentration or occurrence of solid material of economic interest in or on the Earth's crust in such form, grade (or quality), and quantity that there are reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction. The location, quantity, grade (or quality), continuity and other geological characteristics of a Mineral Resource are known, estimated or interpreted from specific geological evidence and knowledge, including sampling. Mineral Resources are sub-divided, in order of increasing geological confidence, into Inferred, Indicated and Measured categories.
Inferred Mineral Resource
An 'Inferred Mineral Resource' is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity and grade (or quality) are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. Geological evidence is sufficient to imply but not verify geological and grade (or quality) continuity. It is based on exploration, sampling and testing information gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes. An Inferred Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an Indicated Mineral Resource and must not be converted to an Ore Reserve. It is reasonably expected that the majority of Inferred Mineral Resources could be upgraded to Indicated Mineral Resources with continued exploration.
Indicated Mineral Resource
An 'Indicated Mineral Resource' is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity, grade (or quality), densities, shape and physical characteristics are estimated with sufficient confidence to allow the application of Modifying Factors in sufficient detail to support mine planning and evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. Geological evidence is derived from adequately detailed and reliable exploration, sampling and testing gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes, and is sufficient to assume geological and grade (or quality) continuity between points of observation where data and samples are gathered. An Indicated Mineral Resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to a Measured Mineral Resource and may only be converted to a Probable Ore Reserve.
Measured Resource
A 'Measured Mineral Resource' is that part of a Mineral Resource for which quantity, grade (or quality), densities, shape, and physical characteristics are estimated with confidence sufficient to allow the application of Modifying Factors to support detailed mine planning and final evaluation of the economic viability of the deposit. Geological evidence is derived from detailed and reliable exploration, sampling and testing gathered through appropriate techniques from locations such as outcrops, trenches, pits, workings and drill holes, and is sufficient to confirm geological and grade (or quality) continuity between points of observation where data and samples are gathered. A Measured Mineral Resource has a higher level of confidence than that applying to either an Indicated Mineral Resource or an Inferred Mineral Resource. It may be converted to a Proved Ore Reserve or under certain circumstances to a Probable Ore Reserve.
Modifying Factors
'Modifying Factors' are considerations used to convert Mineral Resources to Ore Reserves. These include, but are not restricted to, mining, processing, metallurgical, infrastructure, economic, marketing, legal, environmental, social and governmental factors.
Ore Reserve
An 'Ore Reserve' is the economically mineable part of a Measured and/or Indicated Mineral Resource. It includes diluting materials and allowances for losses, which may occur when the material is mined or extracted and is defined by studies at Pre-Feasibility or Feasibility level as appropriate that include application of Modifying Factors. Such studies demonstrate that, at the time of reporting, extraction could reasonably be justified.
Probable Ore Reserve
A 'Probable Ore Reserve' is the economically mineable part of an Indicated, and in some circumstances, a Measured Mineral Resource. The confidence in the Modifying Factors applying to a Probable Ore Reserve is lower than that applying to a Proved Ore Reserve.
Proved Ore Reserve
A 'Proved Ore Reserve' is the economically mineable part of a Measured Mineral Resource. A Proved Ore Reserve implies a high degree of confidence in the Modifying Factors.
Appendix 2. National Classification System
The following terminology and definitions are used in Australia's National Classification System for Identified Mineral Resources.
Resource
A concentration of naturally occurring solid, liquid, or gaseous materials in or on the Earth's crust and in such form that its economic extraction is presently or potentially (within a 20-25 year timeframe) feasible.
Identified Resource
A specific body of mineral-bearing material whose location, quantity and quality are known from specific measurements or estimates from geological evidence for which economic extraction is presently or potentially (within a 20-25 year timeframe) feasible.
To reflect degrees of geological assurance, Identified Resources can be divided into Measured Resources, Indicated Resources and Inferred Resources where Measured Resources have the most geological confidence and Inferred Resources the least. The National Classification System's definitions for Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources are consistent with those of the JORC Code.
Under the JORC Code, with the application of Modifying Factors and mine planning, Measured Resources can be converted into Proved Ore Reserves or Probable Ore Reserves and Indicated Resources can be converted into Probable Ore Reserves.
Demonstrated Resource
A collective term for the sum of Measured and Indicated Resources, including Proved and Probable Ore Reserves.
Economic
This term implies that, at the time of determination, profitable extraction or production under defined investment assumptions has been established, analytically demonstrated, or assumed with reasonable certainty.
Economic Demonstrated Resource (EDR)
A Demonstrated Resource that is regarded as economic under the definition above. The EDR category provides a long-term view of what is likely to be available for mining (potential supply). It does not include Inferred Resources which do not have enough geological confidence to support mine planning. For shorter-term, commercial viewpoints of the economic category see Table 1 (Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources at Operating Mines) and Table 2 (Australia's Ore Reserves).
Subeconomic
This term refers to those resources that are geologically demonstrated but which do not meet the criteria of Economic at the time of determination. Subeconomic Resources include paramarginal and submarginal categories:
- Paramarginal: That part of Subeconomic Resources which, at the time of determination, could be produced given postulated limited increases in commodity prices or cost-reducing advances in technology. The main characteristics of this category are economic uncertainty and/or failure (albeit just) to meet the criteria of economic.
- Submarginal: That part of Subeconomic Resources that would require a substantially higher commodity price or major cost-reducing advance in technology to render them economic.
Accessible Economic Demonstrated Resource (AEDR)
Some resources have enough geological confidence to be considered a Demonstrated Resource and, in normal circumstances, would also be regarded as economic but they are not currently available for development because of legal and/or land-use restrictions. They are included in EDR but not in AEDR.
Appendix 3. Additional Tables
Table 7. Comparisons of EDR of major commodities at Australian mines to total EDR as at December 2022.
| Commodity | Unit | EDR | Number of | Percentage of EDR | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deposits with EDR | Operating Mines | All Mines | Operating Mines | All Mines | Other Deposits | |||
| Bauxite | Mt | 3,521 | 20 | 9 | 13 | 80% | 81% | 19% |
| Black Coal – Recoverable | Mt | 72,875 | 268 | 93 | 125 | 44% | 52% | 48% |
| Cobalt | kt Co | 1,742 | 91 | 6 | 9 | 15% | 17% | 83% |
| Copper | Mt Cu | 101.50 | 217 | 36 | 55 | 84% | 85% | 15% |
| Gold | t Au | 12,159 | 740 | 160 | 216 | 71% | 74% | 26% |
| Iron Ore | Mt | 58,286 | 89 | 41 | 70 | 53% | 70% | 30% |
| Lead | Mt Pb | 34.81 | 84 | 15 | 28 | 76% | 87% | 13% |
| Lithium | kt Li | 7,046 | 15 | 7 | 9 | 68% | 97% | 3% |
| Manganese Ore | Mt | 496 | 23 | 3 | 6 | 45% | 49% | 51% |
| Mineral Sands | ||||||||
| Ilmenite | Mt | 303.3 | 82 | 11 | 16 | 16% | 41% | 59% |
| Rutile | Mt | 39.0 | 59 | 8 | 12 | 9% | 25% | 75% |
| Zircon | Mt | 88.3 | 81 | 10 | 15 | 12% | 44% | 56% |
| Nickel | Mt Ni | 24.1 | 109 | 16 | 28 | 33% | 58% | 42% |
| Silver | kt Ag | 93.65 | 157 | 26 | 41 | 75% | 84% | 16% |
| Uranium | kt U | 1,236 | 33 | 2 | 3 | 81% | 82% | 18% |
| Zinc | Mt Zn | 64.31 | 95 | 17 | 30 | 85% | 88% | 12% |
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 major commodities to total EDR and AEDR as at December 2022.
| Commodity | Unit | Ore Reserves | EDR | AEDR | Ore Reserves/EDR (%) | Ore Reserves/AEDR (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bauxite | Mt | 1,634 | 3,521 | 3,521 | 46% | 46% |
| Black Coal – Recoverable | Mt | 15,121 | 72,875 | 72,208 | 21% | 21% |
| Cobalt | kt Co | 614 | 1,742 | 1,742 | 35% | 35% |
| Copper | Mt Cu | 27.43 | 101.50 | 101.50 | 27% | 27% |
| Gold | t Au | 4,648 | 12,159 | 12,132 | 38% | 38% |
| Iron Ore | Mt | 22,729 | 58,286 | 58,286 | 39% | 39% |
| Lead | Mt Pb | 10.22 | 34.81 | 34.81 | 29% | 29% |
| Lithium | kt Li | 4,794 | 7,046 | 7,046 | 68% | 68% |
| Manganese Ore | Mt | 109 | 496 | 496 | 22% | 22% |
| Mineral Sands | ||||||
| Ilmenite | Mt | 72.1 | 303.3 | 293.4 | 24% | 25% |
| Rutile | Mt | 12.1 | 39.0 | 36.4 | 31% | 33% |
| Zircon | Mt | 30.6 | 88.3 | 84.6 | 35% | 36% |
| Nickel | Mt Ni | 8.6 | 24.1 | 24.1 | 36% | 36% |
| Silver | kt Ag | 26.62 | 93.65 | 93.65 | 28% | 28% |
| Uranium | kt U | 319 | 1,236 | 1,233 | 26% | 26% |
| Zinc | Mt Zn | 21.12 | 64.30 | 64.30 | 33% | 33% |
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 major commodities in Australia as at December 2022.
| Commodity | Unit | EDR | Number of | Percentage of EDR in largest | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deposits | Deposits with EDR | 10 deposits | 20 deposits | |||
| Bauxite | Mt | 3,521 | 40 | 20 (50%) | 98% | 100% |
| Black Coal – Recoverable | Mt | 72,875 | 359 | 268 (75%) | 31% | 44% |
| Cobalt | kt Co | 1,742 | 166 | 91 (55%) | 64% | 80% |
| Copper | Mt Cu | 101.50 | 399 | 217 (54%) | 81% | 88% |
| Gold | t Au | 12,159 | 1,348 | 740 (55%) | 49% | 59% |
| Iron Ore | Mt | 58,286 | 283 | 89 (31%) | 67% | 86% |
| Lead | Mt Pb | 34.81 | 157 | 84(54%) | 86% | 94% |
| Lithium | kt Li | 7,046 | 18 | 15 (82%) | 98% | 100% |
| Manganese Ore | Mt | 496 | 96 | 23 (24%) | 100% | 100% |
| Mineral Sands | ||||||
| Ilmenite | Mt | 303.3 | 180 | 82 (46%) | 61% | 78% |
| Rutile | Mt | 39.0 | 163 | 59 (36%) | 67% | 87% |
| Zircon | Mt | 88.3 | 179 | 81 (45%) | 72% | 89% |
| Nickel | Mt Ni | 24.1 | 188 | 109 (58%) | 62% | 84% |
| Silver | kt Ag | 93.65 | 273 | 157 (58%) | 73% | 84% |
| Uranium | kt U | 1,236 | 96 | 33 (34%) | 95% | 99% |
| Zinc | Mt Zn | 64.30 | 172 | 95 (55%) | 84% | 91% |
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 ($million) of mineral commodities, resources and energy, merchandise and goods and services, 2013 to 2022.
| Category | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total Mineral Exports | 162,572 | 158,312 | 140,885 | 150,186 | 178,999 | 201,208 | 233,772 | 231,233 | 295,088 | 361,890 |
| Total Resources and Energy Exports | 190,323 | 190,859 | 166,131 | 175,645 | 213,046 | 257,304 | 296,859 | 278,248 | 359,988 | 473,016 |
| Total Merchandise Exports | 263,456 | 266,739 | 250,334 | 259,071 | 301,998 | 345,468 | 390,579 | 364,472 | 460,114 | 596,183 |
| Total Goods and Services Exports | 323,442 | 33,120 | 323,136 | 336,894 | 386,677 | 438,284 | 492,684 | 436,302 | 519,512 | 670,552 |
Notes
Total mineral exports includes: metallic minerals, energy minerals (coal and uranium), gemstones, mineral sands and refined minerals (concentrates, bullion, ingot metals).
Source
Office of the Chief Economist (Resources and Energy Quarterly September 2023).
Table 11. Australian export volume and values of mineral and metal commodities 2022.
| Commodity | Export volume | Unit | Export earnings ($million) | Value ($/t or $/c) | Percentage of total mineral export earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium | |||||
| Bauxite | 35,933 | kt | 1,133 | 32 | 0.3% |
| Alumina | 17,187 | kt | 8,932 | 520 | 2.5% |
| Ingot Metal | 1,374 | kt | 5,656 | 4,117 | 1.6% |
| Black Coal | |||||
| Metallurgical | 160,532 | kt | 74,547 | 464 | 20.6% |
| Thermal | 178,653 | kt | 67,798 | 379 | 18.7% |
| Copper | |||||
| Ore and Concentrates | 1,614 | kt | 7,591 | 4,704 | 2.1% |
| Refined | 383 | kt | 4,811 | 12,577 | 1.3% |
| Diamonds | |||||
| Unsorted | 0 | c | 0 | 0 | 0% |
| Sorted Gem | 71,869 | c | 154 | 2,143 | minor |
| Gold – Refined | 237 | t | 23,508 | 99,106,239 | 6.5% |
| Iron | |||||
| Ore | 883,624 | kt | 124,213 | 141 | 34.3% |
| Crude Steel | 1,153 | kt | 1,354 | 1,174 | 0.4% |
| Scrap | 1,733 | kt | 1,142 | 659 | 0.3% |
| Lead | |||||
| Concentrates | 291 | kt | 781 | 2,684 | 0.2% |
| Refined | 138 | kt | 443 | 3,210 | 0.1% |
| Bullion | 148 | kt | 539 | 3,642 | 0.1% |
| Lithium – Ore and Concentrates | 2,703 | kt | 12,125 | 4,486 | 3.4% |
| Nickel | |||||
| Ore and Concentrates | 113 | kt | 339 | 3,000 | 0.1% |
| Refined and Intermediate | 133 | kt | 4,430 | 33,308 | 1.2% |
| Silver – Refined | 123 | t | 150 | 1,219,512 | minor |
| Tin – concentrate | 17,381 | t | 376 | 21,633 | 0.1% |
| Uranium – Oxide (U3O8) | 5,425 | t | 733 | 135,115 | 0.2% |
| Zinc | |||||
| Ore and Concentrates | 2,039 | kt | 3,000 | 1,471 | 0.8% |
| Refined | 315 | kt | 1,668 | 5,295 | 0.5% |
Notes
Total mineral exports earnings in 2022 were $361,890 million (see Table 10). Minor refers to changes of less than 0.1%.
Source
Office of the Chief Economist (Resources and Energy Quarterly September 2023).
Table 12. Changes in Australian mineral and metal export volumes, earnings and values from 2021 to 2022, along with percentage share of export earnings in 2021 and 2022.
| Commodity | Export volume (%) | Export earnings (%) | Value per unit (%) | Percentage of total mineral export earnings 2021 | Percentage of total mineral export earnings 2022 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium | |||||
| Bauxite | 2% | -11% | -12% | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Alumina | -7% | 15% | 23% | 2.6% | 2.5% |
| Ingot Metal | 0% | 21% | 20% | 1.6% | 1.6% |
| Black Coal | |||||
| Metallurgical | -4% | 102% | 110% | 12.5% | 20.6% |
| Thermal | -10% | 154% | 183% | 9.0% | 18.7% |
| Copper | |||||
| Ore and Concentrates | -2% | -2% | 0% | 2.6% | 2.1% |
| Refined | 3% | 12% | 8% | 1.5% | 1.3% |
| Diamonds | |||||
| Unsorted | -100% | -100% | -100% | minor | 0% |
| Sorted Gem | 86% | -34% | -64% | 0.1% | minor |
| Gold – Refined | -8% | 1% | 9% | 7.9% | 6.5% |
| Iron | |||||
| Ore | 1% | -20% | -21% | 52.4% | 34.3% |
| Crude Steel | 68% | 67% | 0% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| Scrap | -14% | -5% | 10% | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| Lead | |||||
| Concentrates | -13% | -17% | -5% | 0.3% | 0.2% |
| Refined | 16% | 24% | 8% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Bullion | -19% | -17% | 2% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Lithium – Ore and Concentrates | 36% | 642% | 449% | 0.6% | 3.4% |
| Nickel | |||||
| Ore and Concentrates | -45% | -41% | 7% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| Refined and Intermediate | 4% | 50% | 44% | 1.0% | 1.2% |
| Silver – Refined | -55% | -51% | 9% | 0.1% | minor |
| Tin – metal content | 11% | 14% | 3% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| Uranium – Oxide (U3O8) | -5% | 60% | 67% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Zinc | |||||
| Ore and Concentrates | -3% | 17% | 20% | 0.9% | 0.8% |
| Refined | -22% | 12% | 44% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
Notes
Total mineral exports earnings in 2022 were $361,890 million (see Table 10). Minor refers to changes of less than 0.1%.
Source
Office of the Chief Economist (Resources and Energy Quarterly September 2023).