Mineral and petroleum exploration expenditure by private organisations in Australia up to June 2021 has risen 33% ($228.7m) from the same time last year.

In figures released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, total expenditure in mineral exploration rose 24.1% (+$177.2m) for the quarter to $912.0m.

State-by-state analysis shows total expenditure in the quarter grew in Victoria by 8%, South Australia by 35%, Western Australia by 24%, Northern Territory by 50%, Queensland by 25% and New South Wales by 28%. Tasmania was the only State to fall in expenditure, dropping 30% ($1.3m).

There was also strong commodity growth with gold increasing 19% ($69.6m), iron ore was up 49% ($49.6m) and selected base metals (copper, silver, lead-zinc, nickel and cobalt) expenditure spiked 21% ($34.0m).

Greenfield expenditure increased 23% ($58.2m) to $310.5m and brownfield expenditure also increased 25% ($119.0m) to $601.5m. Metres drilled grew with greenfield exploration up 26% and brownfield exploration up 32%.

Queensland recorded a particularly strong quarter in terms of greenfield exploration expenditure with 79% ($16.8m) growth, up 10% ($8.9m) on the last year.  Western Australia had growth of 19% ($32.1m) on last quarter to be up 51% ($68.0m) from June last year.

Seasonally adjusted figures showed total expenditure in petroleum exploration fell 8.4% (-$22.7m) to $248.9m, with production lease areas dropping 14.6% (-$21.4m) to $124.7m.

Onshore exploration fell 2.9% (-$4.9m) to $165.1m, while offshore dropped 17.5% (-$17.8m) to $83.8m.