The mineral resource sector covers the exploration, extraction and processing of resources such as coal, uranium, iron ore, nickel, bauxite, gold, lead, copper, zinc, minerals sands and diamonds. Major processing industries include cement, base metal smelting and refining, conversion of bauxite into alumina and aluminium and iron ore into iron and steel.
Australia’s vast mineral endowment, productive efficiency and cutting edge, innovative support industries allow Australia to remain at the forefront of the minerals sector globally.
Australia’s economic demonstrated resources (EDR) of mineral sands (rutile and zircon), brown coal, uranium, nickel, zinc and lead remain the world’s largest, while bauxite, black coal, copper, gold, iron ore and industrial diamond rank in the top six worldwide. Mining companies operating in Australia benefit from a stable regulatory environment with low sovereign risk and access to a highly skilled workforce and world leading technologies. These factors have allowed mining operations in Australia remain amongst the lowest cost in the world.
The strength of this sector is critical to Australia’s economic performance as it is a significant contributor to national Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and export earnings. The mineral resource sector is also a major Australian employer, both directly and indirectly.
Commodity information
The Department has policy responsibility for a number of mineral commodities. For detailed information on individual commodities please view the Department’s commodity webpages: