Prospector Trails
Mining by country/Oceania
Australia is the world's largest mine producer of iron ore, zirconium (zircon), lithium. It is in the world top three for aluminium and bauxite (#2), lead (#2), gold (#3), zinc (#3). The story below follows its minerals from the ground to the economy, the export ports and the mines.
01 · What it digs
Australia mined 38% of the world's iron ore in 2025, ranking #1. Across the 34 minerals we track it holds a share of at least 0.5% in 19.
USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, mine stage, latest year per mineral. Columns on the globe: every producer of iron ore.
02 · Mining in the economy
Mineral rents came to 10% of Australia's GDP in 2021, higher than 94% of the countries the World Bank reports; ores and metals made up 35% of its merchandise exports in 2025. GDP was $1,799bn in 2025.
World Bank WDI: mineral rents (NY.GDP.MINR.RT.ZS) and ores and metals exports (TX.VAL.MMTL.ZS.UN). The globe shades every country by mineral rents.
03 · Six years of output
Mine production, iron ore, zirconium (zircon), lithium, aluminium and bauxite, USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2022 to 2026 (each year as last reported).
04 · Where it goes
Its largest mineral export line in the trade data is iron ore: $85.6bn in 2024, led by China ($72.5bn), Japan ($5.4bn), South Korea ($5.2bn).
CEPII BACI bilateral trade, by value; arcs run from Australia to the buyer.
05 · Jurisdiction
The World Bank's Worldwide Governance Indicators put Australia at +1.46 on rule of law in 2025, higher than 90% of countries. These are perception-based estimates on a scale from −2.5 to +2.5; they describe the operating environment, not any company.
World Bank Worldwide Governance Indicators. The globe shades every country by rule of law.
06 · Mines and projects
40 mines in Australia have output figures in open mine databases; the largest by reported output are below. Listed companies hold 105 projects here, shown as dots.
What Australia mines: iron ore (38% of world output, #1), zirconium (zircon) (33% of world output, #1), lithium (32% of world output, #1), aluminium and bauxite (22% of world output, #2). Mineral rents are 10% of GDP. Below: 105 projects held by listed companies and 148 mines from open mine databases.
Australia in numbers: the infographic
| Mineral | World share | World rank | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron ore | 38% | 1 | 2025 |
| Zirconium (zircon) | 33% | 1 | 2025 |
| Lithium | 32% | 1 | 2025 |
| Aluminium and bauxite | 22% | 2 | 2025 |
| Lead | 11% | 2 | 2025 |
| Gold | 8.5% | 3 | 2025 |
| Zinc | 8.5% | 3 | 2025 |
| Titanium minerals | 8.3% | 4 | 2025 |
| Manganese | 8% | 4 | 2025 |
| Rare earths | 7.4% | 3 | 2025 |
| Tin | 4.1% | 7 | 2025 |
| Silver | 3.9% | 9 | 2025 |
| Copper | 3.2% | 8 | 2025 |
| Tantalum | 2% | 6 | 2025 |
| Cobalt | 1.2% | 5 | 2025 |
| Tungsten | 1.2% | 8 | 2025 |
| Antimony | 1.2% | 7 | 2025 |
| Nickel | 1.1% | 8 | 2025 |
| Phosphate rock | 1% | 13 | 2025 |
| Project | Company | Minerals | Stage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cowal Gold Operation | Evolution Mining | Copper, Gold, Silver | Producing |
| Dolphin Tungsten Mine | Group 6 Metals | Molybdenum, Tungsten | Producing |
| Ernest Henry Operation | Evolution Mining | Copper, Gold | Producing |
| Evolution Mining group (aggregate) | Evolution Mining | Copper, Gold | Producing |
| Evolution Mining group - continuing operations (aggregate) | Evolution Mining | Copper, Gold | Producing |
| Evolution Mining group excl Edna May (aggregate) | Evolution Mining | Copper, Gold | Producing |
| Greenbushes tantalum (GAM) - Greenbushes mine and GAM secondary tantalum/tin plant | Global Advanced Metals | Tantalum, Tin | Producing |
| Hillgrove Gold-Antimony(-Tungsten) Project | Larvotto Resources | Antimony, Gold, Tungsten | Producing |
| Kwinana lithium hydroxide refinery, Covalent Lithium | SQM (Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile) | Lithium | Producing |
| Mount Holland (Earl Grey) spodumene mine and concentrator, Covalent Lithium | SQM (Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile) | Lithium | Producing |
| Mt Carbine | EQ Resources | Tungsten | Producing |
| Mt Rawdon Gold Mine | Evolution Mining | Gold | Producing |
| Mungari Operations (Kundana/Frogs Leg/White Foil/Mungari) | Evolution Mining | Gold | Producing |
| Northparkes Copper-Gold Mine | Evolution Mining | Copper, Gold, Silver | Producing |
| Pilgangoora Operation (Pilgan plant and Ngungaju plant) | PLS Group | Lithium, Tantalum | Producing |
| Telfer | Greatland Resources | Copper, Gold | Producing |
| Western Australia state total - tantalite (all producers) [aggregate pseudo-site] | Global Advanced Metals | Tantalum | Producing |
| Wodgina tantalum (GAM) - Mt Cassiterite / Tinstone pits | Global Advanced Metals | Tantalum, Tin | Producing |
| Bold Head | Group 6 Metals | Tungsten | Development |
| Hancock iron ore (Pilbara) | Alien Metals | Iron ore | Development |
| Havieron | Greatland Resources | Copper, Gold | Development |
| Molyhil Tungsten-Molybdenum Project | Tivan | Copper, Iron ore, Molybdenum, Tungsten | Development |
| Mt Lindsay Tin-Tungsten-Magnetite Project | Critica | Copper, Iron ore, Tin, Tungsten | Development |
| Mt Mulgine (Mulgine Trench, Mulgine Hill, Camp/Black Dog/Bobby McGee gold) | Tungsten Mining | Copper, Gold, Molybdenum, Silver, Tungsten | Development |
| Speewah Fluorite Project | Tivan | Fluorspar | Development |
| Tallebung Tin-Tungsten-Silver Project | Sky Metals | Copper, Silver, Tin, Tungsten, Zinc | Development |
| Taronga Tin Project (Emmaville district, incl. Tin Beetle and regional ELs) | First Tin | Copper, Silver, Tin | Development |
| Watershed Tungsten Project | Tungsten Mining | Tungsten | Development |
| Western Queen Gold-Tungsten Project | Rumble Resources | Gold, Tungsten | Development |
| Alford East copper-gold (ISR) | Thor Energy | Copper, Gold | Exploration |
| Andover lithium project (Azure Minerals) | SQM (Sociedad Química y Minera de Chile) | Cobalt, Copper, Lithium, Nickel | Exploration |
| Binduli JV (Intrepid/IRC) | Evolution Mining | Gold | Exploration |
| Boland / Head ionic rare earth prospect | Cobra Resources | Rare earths | Exploration |
| Bonya tungsten-copper | Thor Energy | Copper, Tungsten | Exploration |
| Bushranger copper-gold project (Racecourse and Ascot prospects) | Xtract Resources | Copper, Gold, Silver | Exploration |
| Canegrass Battery Minerals Project | Viking Mines | Iron ore, Titanium minerals, Vanadium | Exploration |
| Chilly | Greatland Resources | Copper, Gold | Exploration |
| Connors Arc Exploration Project | Evolution Mining | Copper, Gold | Exploration |
| Copperhead porphyry copper (Mo-Ag) project | Rockfire Resources | Copper, Molybdenum, Silver | Exploration |
| Cue Joint Venture (West Island) | Evolution Mining | Gold | Exploration |
| Cullarin Project | Sky Metals | Copper, Gold, Lead, Zinc | Exploration |
| Deloraine rare earth tenement EL22/2022 (Tasmania) | Cobra Resources | Rare earths | Exploration |
| Doradilla Tin-Copper Project (incl. 3KEL) | Sky Metals | Copper, Tin | Exploration |
| Drummond Project JV (Adavale/ADN) | Evolution Mining | Gold | Exploration |
| Earaheedy Zinc-Lead-Silver Project | Rumble Resources | Lead, Silver, Zinc | Exploration |
| Elizabeth Hill silver | Alien Metals | Copper, Lead, Silver, Zinc | Exploration |
| Ernest Giles | Greatland Resources | Gold | Exploration |
| Eyre Multi-metals and Lithium Project | Larvotto Resources | Copper, Gold, Lithium, Nickel | Exploration |
| Firetower | Greatland Resources | Gold | Exploration |
| Geo-Range gas storage (GSEL 804-806) | Thor Energy | gas storage | Exploration |
| Georgina Basin IOCG | Alien Metals | Copper, Gold | Exploration |
| Greater Duchess (Carnaby Resources acquisition) | Evolution Mining | Copper, Gold | Exploration |
| HY-Range natural hydrogen and helium (RSEL 802) | Thor Energy | hydrogen, helium | Exploration |
| Hatches Creek Tungsten Project | Tungsten Mining | Bismuth, Copper, Tungsten | Exploration |
| Holleton Gold Project | Evolution Mining | Gold | Exploration |
| Investigator (Investigator 21/22/24 prospects) | Group 6 Metals | Tungsten | Exploration |
| Jupiter Rare Earths Project (Brothers Project, Yalgoo) | Critica | Gallium, Rare earths | Exploration |
| Juri JV (Black Hills / Paterson Range East) | Greatland Resources | Copper, Gold | Exploration |
| Kangiara Project | Sky Metals | Gold | Exploration |
| Kapunda copper ISR | Thor Energy | Copper, Gold | Exploration |
| Kulin Gold Project | Critica | Gold | Exploration |
| Lander West (Selta project) | First Development Resources | Copper, Gold | Exploration |
| Lighthouse tenements: Double Event, Kookaburra and Brigalow goldfield | Rockfire Resources | Gold, Silver | Exploration |
| Manna Hill Copper Project (Blue Rose and other prospects) | Cobra Resources | Copper, Gold, Molybdenum | Exploration |
| Marengo goldfield (Cu-Au-Ag), incl. Copper Dome | Rockfire Resources | Copper, Gold, Silver | Exploration |
| Marsden Copper-Gold Project | Evolution Mining | Copper, Gold | Exploration |
| Moonta copper ISR (Wombat, Bruce, Larwood) | Thor Energy | Copper | Exploration |
| Mt Isa Copper-Gold-Cobalt Project | Larvotto Resources | Cobalt, Copper, Gold | Exploration |
| Munarra Gully Project | Rumble Resources | Copper, Gold | Exploration |
| Munni Munni PGE-Cu-Ni | Alien Metals | Copper, Gold, Nickel | Exploration |
| NSW gold exploration licences (Sozo farm-in) | EQ Resources | Gold | Exploration |
| Narriah Project | Sky Metals | Lithium, Tin, Tungsten | Exploration |
| O'Callaghans | Greatland Resources | Copper, Lead, Tungsten, Zinc | Exploration |
| Other PLS exploration (Pilgangoora district; Bridge Zone below Central/North pits) | PLS Group | Lithium, Tantalum | Exploration |
| Other Sky projects: Iron Duke (copper-gold), Caledonian (gold), Galwadgere (copper-gold) | Sky Metals | Copper, Gold | Exploration |
| Other early-listing prospects (Love's Find, Koolyanobbing, Mosquito Creek) | Tungsten Mining | Tungsten | Exploration |
| Paterson South JV (Teague / Atlantis / Bootstrap) | Greatland Resources | Copper, Gold | Exploration |
| Pinderi Hills (Ag-Pb-Zn, Li) | Alien Metals | Lead, Lithium, Silver, Zinc | Exploration |
| Pitfield Titanium Project (Thomas and Cosgrove deposits) | Empire Metals | Copper, Titanium minerals | Exploration |
| Plateau gold-silver deposit (Lighthouse tenements) | Rockfire Resources | Gold, Silver, Zinc | Exploration |
| Ramses | Greatland Resources | Copper, Gold | Exploration |
| Sandover Fluorite Project | Tivan | Fluorspar | Exploration |
| Scallywag | Greatland Resources | Copper, Gold | Exploration |
| Selta REE / uranium / lithium targets (Ingallan, West Nintabrinna) | First Development Resources | Lithium, Rare earths | Exploration |
| Selta project (First Development Resources) | Power Metal Resources | Gold, Lithium, Rare earths, Uranium | Exploration |
| South Gawler JV | Evolution Mining | Gold | Exploration |
| Speewah Vanadium Project | Tivan | Iron ore, Titanium minerals, Vanadium | Exploration |
| Telfer regional exploration (Big Tree / Thomsons / Camp Dome) | Greatland Resources | Copper, Gold | Exploration |
| Tennant Creek JV (Emmerson Resources) | Evolution Mining | Copper, Gold | Exploration |
| Theirman Mines tungsten prospect (Tallebung EL 6699, ~20 km N of Tallebung deposit) | Sky Metals | Bismuth, Gold, Silver, Tin, Tungsten | Exploration |
| Thunderstorm Gold Project | Rumble Resources | Gold | Exploration |
| Tivan other projects (Sandover AI, Mount Peake, Timor-Leste: Turiscai, Baucau, Ossu) | Tivan | Iron ore, Titanium minerals, Vanadium | Exploration |
| Vivash Gorge iron ore | Alien Metals | Iron ore | Exploration |
| Wallal (Paterson Province) | First Development Resources | Copper, Gold | Exploration |
| Wallal project (First Development Resources) | Power Metal Resources | Copper, Gold | Exploration |
| Walton Project | Empire Metals | Exploration | |
| Warrentinna | Greatland Resources | Gold | Exploration |
| Whundo Cu-Zn-Au (GreenTech) | Alien Metals | Copper, Gold, Zinc | Exploration |
| Wirralie Exploration Tenements | Evolution Mining | Gold | Exploration |
| Wolfram Camp | EQ Resources | Molybdenum, Tungsten | Exploration |
| Wudinna district regional historic holes (IR, MC series) | Cobra Resources | Rare earths | Exploration |
| Wudinna rare earth prospects (Baggy Green, Clarke, Laker, Anderson, Empire, Thompson) | Cobra Resources | Rare earths | Exploration |
| Big Hill Tungsten Project | Tungsten Mining | Tungsten | Closed |
| Kilba Tungsten Project (Zones 8, 11, 12) | Tungsten Mining | Tungsten | Closed |
| Ragged Range (Kelly, Sterling, Krona) | Thor Energy | Copper, Gold, Lithium, Nickel | Closed |
| Mine | Minerals | Operator | Latest published output |
|---|---|---|---|
| Australia Sands | Iron ore, Titanium minerals, Zirconium (zircon) | 452,000 t (2011) | |
| Boddington | Gold, Copper, Silver | Newmont | 19.9 t (2019) |
| Brocks Creek | Gold | ||
| Broken Hill | Silver, Lead, Zinc | 38.7 t (2008) | |
| Burbanks | Gold | 0.155 t (2015) | |
| CSA | Copper, Silver | 43,500 t (2019) | |
| Cadia | Gold, Copper, Silver | 18.7 t (2018) | |
| Cairn Hill | Iron ore | 1,644,000 t (2014) | |
| Cannington | Silver, Lead, Zinc | South32 | 124,750 t (2019) |
| Carosue Dam | Gold | 6.32 t (2020) | |
| Carrapateena | Copper, Gold | ||
| Central Murchison Gold Project | Gold | 5.42 t (2020) | |
| Century | Zinc, Lead, Silver | 16,457 t (2016) | |
| Cliffs | Nickel | BHP | |
| Cockatoo Island | Iron ore | 544,000 t (2008) | |
| Collingwood | Tin | 1,632 t (2008) | |
| Cosmos | Nickel | 11,000 t (2011) | |
| Cowal | Gold | 4.85 t (2015) | |
| Cracow | Gold, Silver | 3.16 t (2011) | |
| Darling Range Mines | Aluminium and bauxite | Alcoa Corp. | 34,700,000 t (2019) |
| Darlot | Gold | 1.99 t (2020) | |
| DeGrussa | Copper, Gold | 72,238 t (2020) | |
| Deflector | Gold, Copper | 3.25 t (2020) | |
| Duketon | Gold | 10.9 t (2020) | |
| Duketon - Garden Well | Gold | ||
| Duketon - Moolart Well | Gold | ||
| Duketon - Rosemont | Gold | ||
| Edna May | Gold | 2.03 t (2020) | |
| Endeavor | Silver, Lead, Zinc, Copper | 7.02 t (2016) | |
| Energy Resources of Australia | Uranium | 1,999 t (2018) | |
| Ernest Henry and Mount Isa - Ernest Henry | Copper, Gold | ||
| Ernest Henry and Mount Isa - Mount Isa | Copper, Lead, Zinc, Silver | ||
| Extension Hill/Iron Hill | Iron ore | 1,892,000 t (2019) | |
| Fortescue Pilbara Region - Christmas Creek | Iron ore | ||
| Fortescue Pilbara Region - Cloudbreak | Iron ore | ||
| Fortescue Pilbara Region - Eliwana | Iron ore | ||
| Fortescue Pilbara Region - Firetail | Iron ore | ||
| Fortescue Pilbara Region - Kings and Queens | Iron ore | ||
| Fortescue Pilbara hubs (Chichester, Solomon, Eliwana) | Iron ore | Fortescue | |
| Fortnum Gold Operations | Gold | 1.89 t (2020) | |
| GEMCO (Groote Eylandt) | Manganese | South32 | |
| Golden Grove | Copper, Silver, Gold, Lead, Zinc, Platinum group metals | 26,047 t (2015) | |
| Gove | Aluminium and bauxite | Rio Tinto | 12,540,000 t (2018) |
| Granny Smith | Gold | ||
| Halls Creek | Gold | 1.09 t (2020) | |
| Hamersley - Channar | Iron ore | 7,173,000 t (2018) | |
| Hamersley - Eastern Range | Iron ore | 10,052,000 t (2013) | |
| Hamersley Mines | Iron ore | 220,612,000 t (2018) | |
| Hamersley Mines - Brockman 2 | Iron ore | Rio Tinto | |
| Hamersley Mines - Brockman 4 | Iron ore | Rio Tinto | |
| Hamersley Mines - Koodaideri | Iron ore | ||
| Hamersley Mines - Marandoo | Iron ore | Rio Tinto | |
| Hamersley Mines - Mount Tom Price | Iron ore | Rio Tinto | |
| Hamersley Mines - Nammuldi | Iron ore | Rio Tinto | |
| Hamersley Mines - Paraburdoo | Iron ore | Rio Tinto | |
| Hamersley Mines - Silvergrass | Iron ore | Rio Tinto | |
| Hamersley Mines - Western Turner Syncline | Iron ore | Rio Tinto | |
| Hamersley Mines - Yandicoogina | Iron ore | Rio Tinto | |
| Henty | Gold | ||
| Higginsville Gold Operations | Gold | 1.07 t (2019) | |
| Hope Downs | Iron ore | 45,368,000 t (2018) | |
| Hope Downs - Hope Downs 1 | Iron ore | ||
| Hope Downs - Hope Downs 4 | Iron ore | ||
| Iluka Western Australia | Iron ore, Titanium minerals, Zirconium (zircon), Rare earths | 152,400 t (2019) | |
| Iluka Western Australia - Cataby | Iron ore, Zirconium (zircon), Titanium minerals | ||
| Iluka Western Australia - Eneabba | Iron ore, Rare earths, Zirconium (zircon) | ||
| Iron Valley | Iron ore | 6,158,000 t (2020) | |
| Jacinth-Ambrosia | Iron ore, Titanium minerals, Zirconium (zircon) | 260,200 t (2019) | |
| Jaurdi | Gold | 0.517 t (2020) | |
| Jimblebar | Iron ore | BHP | 58,733,059 t (2019) |
| Jundee | Gold | 9.34 t (2020) | |
| Kalgoorlie | Gold | 12.9 t (2019) | |
| Kanowna Belle | Gold | 2.98 t (2016) | |
| Koolan Island | Iron ore | 2,765,000 t (2020) | |
| Koolyanobbing | Iron ore | 7,890,000 t (2020) | |
| Kundana | Gold | 3.33 t (2016) | |
| Lawlers | Gold | 4.08 t (2005) | |
| Leinster | Nickel | BHP | |
| Lennard Shelf | Zinc, Lead, Nickel | 42,000 t (2007) | |
| Leonora | Gold | 6.78 t (2020) |
Aluminium and bauxite minesAntimony minesBismuth minesCobalt minesCopper minesFluorspar minesGallium minesGold minesIron ore minesLead minesLithium minesManganese minesMolybdenum minesNickel minesPhosphate rock minesRare earths minesSilver minesTantalum minesTin minesTitanium minerals minesTungsten minesUranium minesVanadium minesZinc minesZirconium (zircon) mines
World shares: USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries, latest year per mineral. Mineral rents, exports and governance: World Bank WDI and WGI. Trade: CEPII BACI. Projects: listed companies' announcements.