Australia's Identified Mineral Resources 2024 Preliminary Tables

Page last updated:21 January 2025

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Australia's Identified Mineral Resources (AIMR) 2024 presents an annual assessment of Australia's mineral reserves and resources for 36 commodities. Preliminary national Ore Reserve and Mineral Resource estimates, as at 31 December 2023, are available in the tables below. The full AIMR 2024 report will be available in early 2025.

Table 1

Table 1. Australia's Ore Reserves and Mineral Resources of selected commodities at operating mines in 2023.

CommodityUnit No. of Operating Mines1 Ore Reserves2 Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources3 Inferred Mineral Resources4 Mine Production5 Reserve Life (years) Resource Life 1 (years) Resource Life 2 (years)
Antimony kt Sb 1 10.6 28.8 5.1 1.9(6) 6 16 19
Bauxite Mt 9 1,725 3,194 2,053 103.8 17 31 51
Black Coal Mt 95 9,532 30,001(7) 17,987 428(8) 18 57 112
Cobalt kt Co 7 199 301 45 5.3(9) 38 57 65
Copper Mt Cu 28 20.04 83.99 24.61 0.78 26 108 139
Gold t Au 157 3,384 7,276 2,650 296 11 25 34
Iron Ore Mt 46 11,802 29,545 50,701 953 12 31 84
Lead Mt Pb 14 7.19 26.77 9.46 0.47 15 57 77
Lithium kt Li 7 4,019 6,169 1,075 95(10) 42 65 76
Manganese Ore Mt 3 115 218 73 4.1(11) 28 53 71
Magnesite Mt MgCO3 4 37 72 379 0.4(12) 87 166 >1,000
Mineral Sands(13)
Ilmenite Mt 17 40.4 111.5 26.6 0.63 64 177 220
Rutile Mt 14 2.0 5.0 1.6 0.20 10 25 33
Zircon Mt 15 11.1 28.5 7.5 0.41 27 70 88
Molybdenum Mt 1 109 152 0 1.2 89 126 126
Nickel Mt Ni 15 4.5 7.7 2.3 0.15 30 52 67
Rare Earths(14) Mt oxide 2 1.41 1.91 1.35 0.029(15) 49 67 114
Silver(16) kt Ag 23 16.42 63.14 21.41 1.03 16 61 82
Tin kt Sn 1 173 296 30 9.9(17) 17 30 33
Tungsten kt W 3 22.9 77.7 28.86 0.52(18) 44 149 205
Uranium kt U 2 315 1,024 342 4.686(19) 67 219 292
Zinc Mt Zn 14 16.07 52.02 19.67 1.10 15 47 65

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 2023 and thus contributed to production. Some of these mines may belong to larger, multi-mine operations and some may have closed during or since 2023.
  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 at 31 December 2023. NB: Not all operating mines report Ore Reserves.
  3. Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources are inclusive of the Ore Reserves. Mineral Resources are as at 31 December 2023. NB: Not all operating mines report Mineral Resources.
  4. Inferred Mineral Resources are as at 31 December 2023. 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, September 2024), 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 saleable coal.
  9. Cobalt production data from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government (2023 Major Commodities Resource Data File) and company reports (Mallee Resources Ltd).
  10. Lithium production data in previous editions of Australia's Identified Mineral Resources was sourced from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government (2022 Major Commodities Resource Data File) and Core Lithium Ltd reported production from Finniss in the Northern Territory. 2023 lithium production data is from the Office of the Chief Economist, Department of Industry, Science and Resources (Resources and Energy Quarterly, September 2024), production of lithium estimated assuming 6% Li2O in spodumene concentrates.
  11. Australian manganese ore production from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government (2023 Major Commodities Resource Data File) and company reports (OM Holdings Ltd and South 32 Ltd).
  12. Australian magnesite production from South Australia Department for Energy and Mining (Report Book 2024/00024), the Queensland Department of Resources (Annual Mineral Summary 2022-23) and assumed minor production from New South Wales.
  13. 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 (2023 Major Commodities Resource Data File), South Australia Department for Energy and Mining (Report Book 2024/00024), and Northern Territory Department of Industry Tourism and Trade (2023 Northern Territory Mining Production).
  14. Rare earths comprise rare earth oxides (REO) and yttrium oxide (Y2O3).
  15. Rare earths production data from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government (2023 Major Commodities Resource Data File).
  16. Major silver producing mines only; many gold and copper mines also produce silver as a by-product but these are not counted here.
  17. The Office of the Chief Economist reports tin production of 9.9 kt in 2023. Renison, Australia’s only significant tin mine, reports 9.5 kt. Additional production is as by-product from other operations such as Greenbushes.
  18. Tungsten production is a Geoscience Australia estimate based on company correspondence (Tasmania Mines Pty Ltd) and company reports (EQ Resources Ltd and Group 6 Metals Limited).
  19. Uranium production from company reports (BHP Ltd and Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd).

Table 2

Table 2. Australia's Estimated Ore Reserves1 as at December 2023.

CommodityUnit Proved Ore Reserves Probable Ore Reserves Proven & Probable Ore Reserves2 Total Ore Reserves Mine Production3 Reserve Life
Antimony kt Sb 7.6 3.0 0 10.6 1.9(4) 6
Bauxite Mt 674 1,051 0 1,725 103.8 17
Black Coal  Mt 6,210 6,356 1,346 13,912 428(5) 33
Brown Coal  Mt n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a. 38.6(6) n.a.
Chromium kt Cr 0 0 0 0 0 0
Cobalt kt Co 247 431 0 678 5.3(7) 128
Copper Mt Cu 9.23 18.13 0 27.36 0.78 35
Diamond Mc 0 0 0 0 0 0
Fluorine kt F 0 0 0 0 0 0
Gold t Au 1,015 3,471 0 4,486 296 15
Graphite Mt 1.5 3.9 0 5.4 0 n.a.
High Purity Alumina Ore(8) Mt 0.2 1.0 0.0 1.2 0 n.a.
Iron(9)
Hematite ore Mt 5,186 8,046 0 13,232 n.a. n.a.
Magnetite ore Mt 2,593 8,727 0 11,320 n.a. n.a.
Iron ore  Mt 7,770 16,635 0 24,405 953 26
Contained iron Mt Fe 3,631 6,845 0 10,476 589 18
Lead Mt Pb 5.69 4.45 0 10.14 0.47 22
Lithium kt Li 335 4,716 0 5,051 95(10) 53
Magnesite Mt MgCO3 10 3 24 37 0.4(11) 86
Manganese Ore Mt 40 60 17 116 4.1(12) 28
Mineral Sands
Ilmenite Mt 33.0 41.6 0 74.6 0.63(13) 118
Rutile Mt 6.7 6.1 0 12.7 0.20(13) 64
Zircon Mt 15.2 17.6 0 32.8 0.41(13) 80
Molybdenum kt Mo 0 263 0 263 1.2(14) 219
Nickel Mt Ni 3.8 6.7 0 10.5 0.15 70
Niobium kt Nb 58 0 0 58 n.a.(15) n.a.
PGE  t metal 5.8 54.2 0 60.1 0.512(16) 117
Phosphate
Phosphate rock(17) Mt 14 28 81 123 0.7 (18) 176
Contained P2O5 Mt P2O5 4 9 20 32 n.a. n.a.
Potash Mt K2O 2.8 15.4 0 18.3 <0.01(19) n.a.
Rare Earths(20) Mt oxide 1.72 1.62 0 3.34 0.029(21) 117
Scandium kt Sc 6.02 5.63 0 11.65 0 n.a.
Silver kt Ag 12.25 9.99 0 22.24 1.03 22
Tantalum kt Ta 7.1 25.8 0 32.9 0.2(22) 207
Thorium kt Th 0 0 0 0 0 0
Tin kt Sn 42 179 0 220 9.9 22
Tungsten kt W 21 199 0 220 0.52(23) 423
Uranium kt U 171 160 0 331 4.686(24) 71
Vanadium kt V 71 2,205 0 2,277 0 n.a.
Zinc Mt Zn 11.01 7.77 0 18.79 1.10 17

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; HPA = High Purity Alumina; PGE = platinum group elements (Pt, Pd, Os, Ir, Ru, Rh).
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, September 2024), 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 saleable coal.
  6. Australian production of brown coal is sourced from the Victorian State Government, Earth Resources Regulation, Annual Statistical Report FY 2022-23.
  7. Cobalt production data from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government (2023 Major Commodities Resource Data File) and company reports (Mallee Resources Ltd).
  8. Australia's high purity alumina ore is primarily kaolin, but other ore types do occur.
  9. Hematite ore and magnetite ore do not add exactly to total iron ore Resources due to a small number of data discrepancies.
  10. Lithium production data in previous editions of Australia's Identified Mineral Resources was sourced from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government (2022 Major Commodities Resource Data File) and Core Lithium Ltd reported production from Finniss in the Northern Territory. 2023 lithium production data is from the Office of the Chief Economist, Department of Industry, Science and Resources (Resources and Energy Quarterly, September 2024), production of lithium estimated assuming 6% Li2O in spodumene concentrates.
  11. Australian magnesite production from South Australia Department for Energy and Mining (Report Book 2024/00024), the Queensland Department of Resources (Annual Mineral Summary 2022-23) and assumed minor production from New South Wales.
  12. Australian manganese ore production from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government (2023 Major Commodities Resource Data File) and company reports (OM Holdings Ltd and South 32 Ltd).
  13. 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 (2023 Major Commodities Resource Data File), South Australia Department for Energy and Mining (Report Book 2024/00035), and Northern Territory Department of Industry Tourism and Trade (2023 Northern Territory Mining Production).
  14. Molybdenum production is a Geoscience Australia estimate based on company correspondence (Newmont Mining Ltd).
  15. 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.
  16. Platinum and palladium production data from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government (2023 Major Commodities Resource Data File).
  17. Phosphate rock is reported as being economic at grades ranging from 8.7% to 30.2% P2O5.
  18. Phosphate production based on company correspondence (616,942 t from Christmas Island; Phosphate Resources Ltd), 1,012 t recorded by the South Australia Department for Energy and Mining (Report Book 2024/00024) and and 123,000 t recorded by the Queensland Department of Mines (Annual Mineral Summary 2022-23).
  19. Australian potash production (5,503 tonnes) from Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government (2023 Major Commodities Resource Data File).
  20. Rare earths comprise rare earth oxides (REO) and yttrium oxide (Y2O3).
  21. Rare earths production data from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government (2023 Major Commodities Resource Data File).
  22. Tantalum production data from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government (2023 Major Commodities Resource Data File). Production represents a maximum as no correction has been made for actual tantalite concentration in reported concentrates.
  23. Tungsten production is a Geoscience Australia estimate based on company correspondence (Tasmania Mines Pty Ltd) and company reports (EQ Resources Ltd and Group 6 Metals Limited).
  24. Uranium production from company reports (BHP Ltd and Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd).

Table 3

Table 3. Australia's Identified Mineral Resources as at December 2023.

CommodityUnitAustraliaWorld
Demonstrated Resources Inferred Resources2 Accessible EDR3 Mine Production4 Economic Resources5 Mine Production6
Economic (EDR)1Subeconomic
ParamarginalSubmarginal
Antimony kt Sb 112.4 8.0 0 57.9 112.4 1.9(7) >2,000 83
Bauxite Mt 3,714 61 1,429 2,779 3,714 103.8 30,000 400
Black Coal
In situ Mt 85,774 2,466 4,638 99,354 84,888 n.a. n.a. n.a.
Recoverable Mt 72,487 1,902 3,362 77,730 71,820 428(8) 779,002(9) 7,540(9)
Brown Coal          
In situ Mt 81,234 45,696 239,225 122,509 79,472 n.a. n.a. n.a.
Recoverable Mt 74,039 42,082 215,303 105,228 72,453 38.6(10) 321,024(11) 1,192(11)
Chromium kt Cr 748 3,898 0 2,315 748 0 560,000(12) 41,000(12)
Cobalt kt Co 1,690 182 5 1,220 1,690 5.3(13) 11,000 230
Copper Mt Cu 104.74 1.48 0.24 47.92 104.74 0.78 1,000 21.5
Diamond Mc 2.81 0 0 18.56 2.81 0 1,700(14) 45
Fluorine kt F 343 721 6 2,543 343 0 136,000 4,300(15)
Gold t Au 12,676 146 52 6,554 12,653 296 59,000 3,000
Graphite Mt 10.8 <1 0 10.7 10.8 0 292 1.6
High Purity Alumina Ore(16) Mt 19.1 0.0 0.0 31.8 19.1 0 n.a. n.a.
Iron(17)
Hematite ore Mt 34,601 980 28 56,282 34,601 n.a. n.a. n.a.
Magnetite ore Mt 24,948 4,200 1,044 34,836 24,948 n.a. n.a. n.a.
Iron ore Mt 58,622 5,217 1,280 92,919 58,622 953 190,000 2,500
Contained iron Mt Fe 26,955 1,622 426 42,775 26,955 589 87,000 1,500
Lead Mt Pb 34.28 1.31 0.14 24.53 34.28 0.47 92.88 4.5
Lithium kt Li 8,440 0 <1 1,661 8,440 95(18) 30,000 190
Magnesite Mt MgCO3 284 75 35 978 284 0.4(19) 7,700 22(20)
Manganese Ore Mt 576 <1 190 480 576 4.1(21)  1,700(22) 18.5(22)
Mineral Sands
Ilmenite Mt 305.8 16.3 10.9 258.5 291.1 0.63(23) 1,164 14.3
Rutile Mt 41.2 0.1 3.1 39.2 37.2 0.20(23) 62 0.6
Zircon Mt 87.7 0.3 5.0 68.0 84.0 0.41(23) 113 2.2
Molybdenum kt Mo 759 366 <1 1,251 759 1.2(24) 15,000 260
Nickel Mt Ni 24.6 2.2 <1 18.2 24.6 0.15 >130 3.6
Niobium kt Nb 255 15 0 582 255 n.a.(25) >17,000 83
PGE t metal 466.3 60.0 2.7 565.9 466.3 0.512(26) 71,000 390(27)
Phosphate
Phosphate rock(28) Mt 803 498 0 1,890 803 0.7(29) 74,000 220
Contained P2O5 Mt P2O5 131 90 0 328 132 n.a. n.a. n.a.
Potash
In situ Mt K2O 49.4 320.7 0 988.5 49.2 n.a 250,000 n.a.
Recoverable Mt K2O 49.4 1.6 0 147.0 49.2 <0.01(30) >11,000 39
Rare Earths(31) Mt oxide 6.26 4.73 34.19 25.16 6.26 0.029(32) 116 0.36
Scandium kt Sc 34.41 0.75 0 21.75 34.41 0 n.a. n.a.
Silver kt Ag 91.39 1.68 0.48 46.41 91.39 1.03 608 25.6
Tantalum kt Ta 120.8 1.4 0.2 35.6 120.8 0.2(33) n.a. 2.5
Thorium kt Th 0 0 796 658 0 0 n.a. n.a.
Tin kt Sn 566 61 32 324 566 9.9 4,300 290
Tungsten kt W 568 0 5 204 568 0.52(34) 4,400 78
Uranium kt U 1,260 52 27 621 1,257 4.686(35) 3,869(36) 49.5(37)
Vanadium kt V 10,022 121 2,540 18,549 10,022 0 20,000 100
Zinc Mt Zn 63.66 0.43 0.75 47.94 63.66 1.10 224 12

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; HPA = High Purity Alumina; PGE = platinum group elements (Pt, Pd, Os, Ir, Ru, Rh).
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, September 2024), 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 2024) and adjusted with Geoscience Australia data, unless otherwise stated.
  6. World mine production from the United States Geological Survey (Mineral Commodity Summaries 2024) 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 saleable coal. In previous years Geoscience Australia has reported raw production data.
  9. World economic resources and world production of black coal (data for 2022) from the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Germany (Energy Study 2023, issued August 2024).
  10. Australian production of brown coal is sourced from the Victorian State Government, Earth Resources Regulation, Annual Statistical Report FY 2022-23.
  11. World economic resources and world production of brown coal from the Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Germany (Energy Study 2023). Date of issue: June 2024, world data status: 2022.
  12. World economic resources and mine production are presented as chromite ore.
  13. Cobalt production data from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government (2023 Major Commodities Resource Data File) and company reports (Mallee Resources Ltd).
  14. World resource figures are for industrial diamonds only, no data provided for resources of gem diamonds.
  15. World mine production of fluorine excludes the USA.
  16. Australia's high purity alumina ore is primarily kaolin, but other ore types do occur.
  17. Hematite ore and magnetite ore do not add exactly to total iron ore Resources due to a small number of data discrepancies.
  18. Lithium production data in previous editions of Australia's Identified Mineral Resources was sourced from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government (2022 Major Commodities Resource Data File) and Core Lithium Ltd reported production from Finniss in the Northern Territory. 2023 lithium production data is from the Office of the Chief Economist, Department of Industry, Science and Resources (Resources and Energy Quarterly, September 2024), production of lithium estimated assuming 6% Li2O in spodumene concentrates.
  19. Australian magnesite production from South Australia Department for Energy and Mining (Report Book 2024/00024), the Queensland Department of Resources (Annual Mineral Summary 2022-23) and assumed minor production from New South Wales.
  20. World mine production excludes the USA.
  21. Australian manganese ore production from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government (2023 Major Commodities Resource Data File) and company reports (OM Holdings Ltd and South 32 Ltd).
  22. World economic resources and mine production of manganese are published by the United States Geological Survey as manganese content, not manganese ore.
  23. 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 (2023 Major Commodities Resource Data File), South Australia Department for Energy and Mining (Report Book 2024/00024), and Northern Territory Department of Industry Tourism and Trade (2023 Northern Territory Mining Production).
  24. Molybdenum production is a Geoscience Australia estimate based on company correspondence (Newmont Mining Ltd).
  25. 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.
  26. Australian platinum and palladium production data from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government (2023 Major Commodities Resource Data 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. Phosphate production based on company correspondence (616,942 t from Christmas Island; Phosphate Resources Ltd), 1,012 t recorded by the South Australia Department for Energy and Mining (Report Book 2024/00024), and 123,000 t recorded by the Queensland Department of Mines (Annual Mineral Summary 2022-23).
  30. Australian potash production (5,503 tonnes) from Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government (2023 Major Commodities Resource Data File).
  31. Rare earths comprise rare earth oxides (REO) and yttrium oxide (Y2O3).
  32. Rare earths production data from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government (2023 Major Commodities Resource Data File).
  33. Australian tantalum production data from Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Western Australian Government (2023 Major Commodities Resource Data File). Production represents a maximum as no correction has been made for actual tantalite concentration in reported concentrates.
  34. Tungsten production is a Geoscience Australia estimate based on company correspondence (Tasmania Mines Pty Ltd) and company reports (EQ Resources Ltd and Group 6 Metals Limited).
  35. Australian uranium production from company reports (BHP Ltd and Heathgate Resources Pty Ltd).
  36. World economic resources from the International Atomic Energy Agency/Nuclear Energy Agency (personal communication, September 2024). Uranium EDR based on Reasonably Assured Resources recoverable at costs of less than US$130/kgU.
  37. World production of uranium as at January 2023 from the International Atomic Energy Agency/Nuclear Energy Agency (personal communication, September 2024).

Table 4

Table 4. Changes in Australia's Economic Demonstrated Resources (EDR), World Economic Resources and Australian and world production from 2022 to 2023.

CommodityUnit Australian EDR World Economic Resources Australian production World production
20222023 Change (%) Change (%)20222023 Change (%) Change (%)
Antimony kt Sb 139.4 112.4 -19%n.a. 2.3 1.9 -21% -25%
Bauxite Mt 3,521 3,714 5%0% 102.3 103.8 1% 5%
Black Coal (in situ)1 Mt 85,990 85,774 0%n.a. 520 547 5%n.a.
Black Coal (recoverable)2 Mt 72,875 72,487 -1% 3% 419 428 2% 8%
Brown Coal (in situ)1 Mt 81,234 81,234 0%n.a. 39.1 38.6 -1%n.a.
Brown Coal (recoverable)2 Mt 74,039 74,039 0%0% n.a. n.a. n.a. 6%
Chromium kt Cr 0 748 n.a.0% 0 0 0%0%
Cobalt kt Co 1,742 1,690 -3% 30% 5.8 5.3 -9% 24%
Copper Mt Cu 101.50 104.74 3% 12% 0.82 0.78 -5% 2%
Diamond(3) Mc 2.81 2.81 0% 32% 0 0 0% -2%
Fluorine kt F 343 343 0% 8% 0 0 0% 8%
Gold t Au 12,159 12,676 4% 7% 306 296 -3% -3%
Graphite Mt 8.5 10.8 27% -12% 0 0 0%23%
High Purity Alumina Ore Mt Al2O3 16.7 19.1 14%n.a. 0 0 0%n.a.
Iron
Hematite Ore Mt 35,075 34,601 -1%n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.n.a.
Magnetite Ore Mt 24,251 24,948 3%n.a. n.a. n.a. n.a.n.a.
Total Iron Ore Mt 58,286 58,622 1%0% 945 953 1%0%
Contained iron Mt Fe 27,190 26,955 -1% 1% 584 589 1%0%
Lead Mt Pb 34.81 34.28 -2% 12% 0.44 0.47 7%0%
Lithium kt Li 7,046 8,440 20% 11% 75 95 27% 33%
Magnesite Mt MgCO3 284 284 0% 13% 0.5 0.4 -6% -12%
Manganese Ore Mt 496 576 16%0% 4.5 4.1 -9% -1%
Mineral Sands
Ilmenite Mt 303.3 305.8 1% 5% 0.74 0.63 -15% -4%
Rutile Mt 39.0 41.2 6% 12% 0.16 0.20 26%0%
Zircon Mt 88.3 87.7 -1% -2% 0.47 0.41 -13%0%
Molybdenum kt Mo 687 759 10% 23% 0.277 1.219 340% 4%
Nickel Mt Ni 24.1 24.6 2% >25% 0.16 0.15 -4% 9%
Niobium kt Nb 216 255 18%n.a. n.a n.a 0% 5%
PGE t metal 359.3 466.3 30% 1% 0.492 0.512 4% -3%
Phosphate
Phosphate rock Mt 1,080 803 -26% 3% >0.4 0.7 n.a.0%
Contained phosphate Mt P2O5 178 131 -26%n.a. n.a n.a n.a.n.a.
Potash Mt K2O 47.3 49.4 4%0% <0.1 <0.1 0% -3%
Rare Earths(4) Mt oxide 5.70 6.26 10% -9% 0.016 0.029 79% 20%
Scandium kt Sc 36.65 34.41 -6%n.a. 0 0 0%n.a.
Silver kt Ag 93.65 91.39 -2% 12% 1.17 1.03 -12% 2%
Tantalum kt Ta 110.0 120.8 10%n.a. 0.2 0.2 -14% 20%
Thorium kt Th 0 0 0%n.a. 0 0 0%n.a.
Tin kt Sn 623 566 -9% -7% 9.0 9.9 9% -3%
Tungsten kt W 568 568 0% 16% 0.23 0.52 126% -7%
Uranium kt U 1,236 1,260 2% 1% 4.555 4.686 3% 1%
Vanadium kt V 8,510 10,022 18% -24% 0 0 0% -2%
Zinc Mt Zn 64.30 63.66 -1% 9% 1.23 1.10 -11% -8%

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; HPA = High Purity Alumina; PGE = platinum group elements (Pt, Pd, Os, Ir, Ru, Rh).
Where an element symbol follows the unit it refers to contained metal content.

Notes

  1. In situ coal EDR and raw coal production.
  2. Recoverable coal EDR and saleable production.
  3. Diamond EDR in 2022 has been reassessed since the previous edition of Australia's Identified Mineral Resources.
  4. Rare earths comprise rare earth oxides (REO) and yttrium oxide (Y2O3).

Table 5

Table 5. World ranking for Australian Economic Resources and Australian production as at December 2023.

Commodity World Ranking for Economic Resources Share of World Economic Resources World Ranking for Production Share of World Production
Antimony 6 5% 7 2%
Bauxite 3 12% 1 26%
Black Coal (recoverable) 4 9% 5 6%
Brown Coal (recoverable) 2 23% 9 3%
Chromium minor minor n.a. 0%
Cobalt 2 16% 4 2%
Copper 3 10% 8 4%
Diamond  minor minor n.a. 0%
Fluorine 8 minor n.a. 0%
Gold 1 21% 3 10%
Graphite 8 4% n.a. 0%
High Purity Alumina Ore                unknown unknown n.a. 0%
Ilmenite 2 26% 6 4%
Iron Ore 1 31% 1 38%
Lead 1 37% 2 10%
Lithium 2 28% 1 49%
Magnesite 4 4% 9 2%
Manganese Ore 4 15% 3 9%
Molybdenum 6 5% minor minor
Nickel 2 19% 6 4%
Niobium unknown unknown unknown unknown
Phosphate 11 1% 13 1%
PGE minor minor minor minor
Potash 12 1% minor minor
Rare Earths 6 5% 4 8%
Rutile 1 66% 1 35%
Scandium unknown unknown n.a. 0%
Silver 3 15% 8 4%
Tantalum unknown unknown 4 6%
Thorium n.a. 0% n.a. 0%
Tin 3 13% 8 3%
Tungsten 2 13% minor minor
Uranium 1 32% 4 9%
Vanadium 1 49% 0 0%
Zinc 1 28% 3 9%
Zircon 1 77% 2 24%

Abbreviations

n.a. = not applicable because Australia has no Economic Demonstrated Resources or production of that particular commodity; 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 comparisons (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 publicly available. World rankings for black coal resources and production based on 2022 data from Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Germany (Energy Study 2023). Uranium EDR based on Reasonably Assured Resources recoverable at costs of less than US$130/kg.

Sources

United States Geological Survey (Mineral Commodity Summaries 2024), International Atomic Energy Agency/Nuclear Energy Agency (personal communication September 2024), World Nuclear Organisation (Uranium Production, Figures, personal communication September 2024), Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources, Germany (Energy Study 2023).

Table 6

Table 6. Average reserve life and resource life (years) for selected commodities as at December 2023.

CommodityAustraliaWorld
Operating Mines1 All Deposits All Deposits
Ore Reserves2 Measured and Indicated Mineral Resources3 All Resources4 Ore Reserves5 AEDR6 All Resources7 World Economic Resources8
Bauxite 17 31 51 17 35 75 75
Black Coal 22 75 91 33 170 365 105
Brown Coal n.a. 54 91 n.a. >1,000 >1,000 270
Cobalt 38 57 65 128 320 580 50
Copper 26 108 139 35 135 200 45
Gold 11 25 34 15 45 65 20
Ilmenite 67 177 220 118 460 940 80
Iron Ore 12 31 84 26 60 165 75
Lead 15 57 77 22 75 130 20
Lithium 42 65 76 53 90 110 155
Magnesite 86 166 >1,000 86 650 >1,000 350
Manganese Ore 28 53 71 28 140 305 95
Nickel 30 52 67 70 165 300 >35
Rare Earths 49 67 114 117 20 >1,000 315
Rutile 10 25 33 64 185 420 110
Silver 16 61 82 22 90 135 25
Tin 17 30 33 22 60 100 15
Tungsten 44 149 205 423 >1,000 >1,000 60
Uranium 67 219 292 71 270 420 80
Zinc 15 47 65 17 60 100 20
Zircon 28 70 88 80 205 395 55

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 2023 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. All Resources for all deposits includes Economic Demonstrated Resources, Subeconomic Demonstrated Resources and Inferred Resources (see Table 3). Figures rounded to nearest five years.
  8. 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

Table 7. Comparisons of EDR of commodities at Australian mines to total EDR as at December 2023.

CommodityUnitEDR Number of Percentage of EDR
Deposits with EDR Operating Mines with EDR All Mines with EDR Operating Mines All Mines Other Deposits
Bauxite  Mt 3,714 21 9 11 81% 86% 14%
Black Coal, recoverable  Mt 72,487 269 94 123 44% 51% 49%
Brown coal Mt 74,039 36 2 2 3% 3% 97%
Cobalt kt Co 1,690 109 7 17 18% 35% 65%
Copper  Mt Cu 104.74 243 28 54 84% 88% 12%
Gold  t Au 12,676 781 157 231 67% 71% 29%
Graphite Mt 10.8 14 0 3 0% 59% 41%
Iron Ore  Mt 58,622 91 45 61 55% 69% 31%
Lead  Mt Pb 34.28 87 14 28 78% 87% 13%
Lithium  kt Li 8,440 18 7 9 72% 96% 4%
Magnesite Mt MgCO3 284 12 3 3 25% 25% 75%
Manganese Ore Mt 576 14 3 6 38% 41% 59%
Mineral Sands
Ilmenite Mt 305.8 83 15 20 35% 43% 57%
Rutile Mt 41.2 60 12 17 9% 24% 76%
Zircon Mt 87.7 82 15 18 32% 45% 55%
Nickel  Mt Ni 24.6 114 15 26 31% 48% 52%
Rare earths Mt oxide 6.26 21 2 10 35% 79% 21%
Silver  kt Ag 91.39 170 23 42 72% 83% 17%
Tungsten kt W 568 15 3 4 14% 15% 85%
Uranium  kt U 1,260 33 2 3 81% 82% 18%
Zinc Mt Zn 63.66 105 14 27 82% 86% 14%

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

Table 8. Comparisons of Ore Reserves of commodities to total EDR and AEDR as at December 2023.

CommodityUnit Ore ReservesEDRAEDR Ore Reserves/EDR (%) Ore Reserves/AEDR (%)
Bauxite Mt 1,725 3,714 3,714 46% 46%
Black Coal, recoverable Mt 13,912 72,487 71,820 19% 19%
Cobalt kt Co 678 1,690 1,690 40% 40%
Copper Mt Cu 28.30 104.74 104.74 27% 27%
Gold t Au 4,486 12,676 12,653 35% 35%
Graphite Mt 5.4 10.8 10.8 50% 50%
Iron Ore Mt 26,382 58,622 58,622 45% 45%
Lead Mt Pb 10.14 34.28 34.28 30% 30%
Lithium kt Li 5,051 8,440 8,440 60% 60%
Manganese Ore Mt 116 576 576 20% 20%
Magnesite Mt MgCO3 37 284 284 13% 13%
Mineral Sands
Ilmenite Mt 74.6 305.8 291.1 24% 26%
Rutile Mt 12.7 41.2 37.2 31% 34%
Zircon Mt 32.8 87.7 84.0 37% 39%
Molybdenum kt 263 759 759 35% 35%
Nickel Mt Ni 10.5 24.6 24.6 43% 43%
PGE t metal 60.1 466.3 466.3 13% 13%
Rare Earths Mt oxide 3.34 6.26 6.26 53% 53%
Scandium kt Sc 11.65 34.41 34.41 34% 34%
Silver kt Ag 22.24 91.39 91.39 24% 24%
Tin kt Sn 220 566 566 39% 39%
Tungsten kt W 220 568 568 39% 39%
Uranium kt U 331 1,260 1,257 26% 26%
Vanadium kt V 2,277 10,022 10,022 23% 23%
Zinc Mt Zn 18.79 63.66 63.66 30% 30%

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

Table 9. Distribution of EDR of commodities in Australia as at December 2023.

CommodityUnitEDR Number of Percentage of EDR in largest
Deposits Deposits with EDR 10 deposits 20 deposits
Bauxite Mt3,7144020 (50%)99%100%
Black Coal, recoverable Mt72,487360269 (75%)31%44%
Brown Coal, recoverableMt74,0397336 (49%)64%94%
Cobaltkt Co1,690185109 (59%)58%75%
Copper Mt Cu104.74430243 (57%)81%87%
Gold t Au12,6761,406780 (55%)47%57%
Iron OreMt58,62228092 (33%)67%86%
Lead Mt Pb34.2816587(53%)85%94%
Lithium kt Li8,4402318 (78%)98%100%
Manganese Ore Mt5764814 (29%)99%100%
MagnesiteMt MgCO32843412 (35%)99%100%
Mineral Sands       
IlmeniteMt305.818183 (46%)62%79%
RutileMt41.216560 (36%)70%89%
ZirconMt87.718182 (45%)72%89%
Molybdenumkt7593817 (45%)97%100%
Nickel Mt Ni24.6197114 (58%)63%83%
Rare Earths Mt oxide6.2616921 (12%)91%100%
Scandiumkt Sc34.411910 (53%)100%100%
Silver kt Ag91.39292170 (58%)73%84%
Tinkt Sn5665717 (30%)98%100%
Tungstenkt W5683115 (48%)99%100%
Uranium kt U1,2609633 (34%)95%99%
Vanadiumkt V10,0224418 (41%)89%100%
Zinc Mt Zn63.66182104 (57%)82%90%

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, 2014 to 2023.

Category201420152016201720182019202020212022 2023
Total Mineral Exports158,312140,885150,186178,999201,208233,772231,233295,088361,890343,038
Total Resources and Energy Exports190,859166,131175,645213,046257,304296,859278,248359,988473,016436,412
Total Merchandise Exports266,739250,334259,071301,998345,468390,579364,472460,114596,183559,288
Total Goods and Services Exports33,120323,136336,894386,677438,284492,684436,302519,512670,552672,588

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 2024).

Table 11

Table 11. Australian export volume and values of mineral and metal commodities 2023.

Commodity Export volumeUnit Export earnings ($million) Value
($/t or $/c)		 Percentage of total mineral export earnings
Aluminium
Bauxite 37,481 kt 1,680 45 0.5%
Alumina 16,234 kt 8,306 512 2.4%
Ingot Metal 1,452 kt 5,129 3,532 1.5%
Black Coal
Metallurgical 151,252 kt 56,880 376 16.6%
Thermal 202,203 kt 46,308 229 13.5%
Copper
Ore and Concentrates 1,385 kt 6,677 4,821 1.9%
Refined 402 kt 5,014 12,473 1.5%
Diamonds
Unsorted 75 c 0.05730 minor
Sorted Gem 45,614 c 344 7,542 0.1%
Gold – Refined 248 t 28,339 114,270,161 8.3%
Iron
Ore 891,697 kt 136,257 153 39.7%
Crude Steel 1,073 kt 1,268 1,182 0.4%
Scrap 2,040 kt 1,272 624 0.4%
Lead
Concentrates 347 kt 805 2,320 0.2%
Refined 129 kt 461 3,574 0.1%
Bullion 120 kt 503 4,192 0.1%
Lithium
Ore and Concentrates 3,573 kt 18,777 5,255 5.5%
Refined 1.4 kt 42.7 30,712 minor
Nickel
Ore and Concentrates 178 kt 521 2,925 0.2%
Refined and Intermediate 142 kt 4,036 28,423 1.2%
Silver – Refined 119 t 234 1,966,387 minor
Tin – concentrate 17,759 t 325 18,301 0.1%
Uranium – Oxide (U3O8) 4,803 t 911 189,673 0.3%
Zinc
Concentrates 2,007 kt 2,134 1,063 0.6%
Refined 437 kt 1,905 4,359 0.6%

Abbreviations

Total mineral exports earnings in 2023 were $343,038 million (see Table 10). Minor refers to less than 0.1% of total mineral export earnings.

Source

Office of the Chief Economist (Resources and Energy Quarterly September 2024).

Table 12

Table 12. Changes in Australian mineral and metal export volumes, earnings and values from 2022 to 2023, along with percentage share of export earnings in 2022 and 2023.

Commodity Export volume (%) Export earnings (%) Value per unit (%) Percentage of total mineral export earnings 2022 Percentage of total mineral export earnings 2023
Aluminium
Bauxite 4% 48% 42% 0.3% 0.5%
Alumina -6% -7% -2% 2.5% 2.4%
Ingot Metal 6% -10% -14% 1.6% 1.5%
Black Coal
Metallurgical -6% -25% -20% 20.6% 16.6%
Thermal 13% -32% -40% 18.7% 13.5%
Copper
Ore and Concentrates -14% -12% 3% 2.1% 1.9%
Refined 5% 4% -1% 1.3% 1.5%
Diamonds
Unsorted n.a. n.a. n.a. 0% minor
Sorted Gem -37% 123% 252% minor 0.1%
Gold – Refined 5% 21% 15% 6.5% 8.3%
Iron
Ore 1% 10% 9% 34.3% 39.7%
Crude Steel -7% -6% 1% 0.4% 0.4%
Scrap 18% 11% -5% 0.3% 0.4%
Lead
Concentrates 19% 3% -14% 0.2% 0.2%
Refined -7% 4% 11% 0.1% 0.1%
Bullion -19% -7% 15% 0.1% 0.1%
Lithium
Ore and Concentrates 32% 55% 17% 3.4% 5.5%
Refined  n.a. n.a. n.a. 0.0% minor
Nickel
Ore and Concentrates 58% 54% -2% 0.1% 0.2%
Refined and Intermediate 7% -9% -15% 1.2% 1.2%
Silver - Refined -3% 56% 61% minor minor
Tin – metal content 2% -14% -15% 0.1% 0.1%
Uranium – Oxide (U3O8) -11% 24% 40% 0.2% 0.3%
Zinc
Ore and Concentrates -2% -29% -28% 0.8% 0.6%
Refined 39% 14% -18% 0.5% 0.6%

Abbreviations

Total mineral exports earnings in 2023 were $343,038 million (see Table 10). Minor refers to changes of less than 0.1%. n.a. = not available.

Source

Office of the Chief Economist (Resources and Energy Quarterly September 2024).