Current Exploration Activity
Following seven successive years of growth in exploration, with a peak of $228.4M in 2011, mineral exploration expenditure declined in the Northern Territory in 2012, with total mineral exploration expenditure of A$152.6M. Onshore petroleum activity continued to increase in 2012, with more than $100M in expenditure.
The top commodities by expenditure in 2012 was gold ($49.4M) with significant exploration for uranium, iron ore and copper as well as other commodities including rare earths, phosphate, potash, vanadium and tungsten.
At the end of 2012, there were 1482 granted exploration licences (compared with 1377 at the end of 2010) and 1006 exploration applications. During 2012, 300 applications were received and 411 were granted.
To search for recent announcement and news articles on exploration in the Territory, access NTGS’s regularly updated online Exploration News Database and to view current exploration tenements, visit the Titles Information System.
