PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Australia’s total minerals exploration expenditure rose to A$526-million in the last three months of 2009 boosted by increased expenditure in Western Australia, official statistics showed on Wednesday.

The fourth quarter’s expenditure increased by 4,7% from the third quarter, but it was 9,4% lower than that of the December 2008 quarter, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reported.

The ABS noted that exploration expenditure in Western Australia, which was the largest contributor to the increase, grew by 4,4%, or A$12,3-million. The largest fall in exploration expenditure was seen in New South Wales, which was down 9,5%, or A$3,3-million.

The seasonally adjusted estimate of minerals exploration expenditure rose by A$8,1-million, or 1,6% to A$530,1-million during the December quarter of 2009.

The largest rises during this quarter was attributed to Western Australia, which was up by $17,7-million, or 6,4%, and Queensland, which was up $14,4-million or 14,6%.

In original terms, the ABS noted that minerals exploration expenditure rose A$21,4-million, or 3,8%.

Western Australia had the largest rise of $22,8-million, followed by Queensland which rose $19,7-million.

In original terms, exploration on areas of new deposits rose by $27,2-million, or 13,5%), while expenditure on areas of existing deposits fell by $5,8-million, or 1,6%.

The ABS stated that in original terms, the largest rise by minerals sought came from expenditure on copper exploration, which was up by $17-million, or 45,9%, with the largest rise occurring in Western Australia. The next largest rise came from expenditure on gold exploration, which was up by $12,1-million, or 9,1%.

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