Gold and uranium exploration lead strong national growth as Australia invests heavily in future resource discoveries.
Canberra, Australia, 28 November 2025 – Australia’s mineral exploration industry has reached its highest spending levels since late 2023, driven by a major surge in gold and uranium exploration. Newly released data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows a strong rise in activity across multiple states, highlighting renewed confidence in the nation’s resources sector.
According to the ABS, gold exploration spending increased 7.2% in the June quarter, reaching $431.5 million. This represents a dramatic jump compared to the same quarter in 2024, when spending sat at $297.5 million. Increased activity in New South Wales and South Australia played a major role in this growth. Over the past 12 months alone, gold exploration expenditure has climbed by an impressive 45%.
National mineral exploration spending reached $1.068 billion in Q3 2025, a 5.7% rise from the June quarter and 5% higher than the same period last year. This growth reflects broader optimism in Australia’s mineral resources and the continuing demand for critical minerals.
AMEC Chief Executive Warren Pearce noted that gold continues to be one of the most stable and attractive exploration commodities, supported by high gold prices and global economic uncertainty. Pearce also highlighted a significant rise in uranium exploration spending, which increased 20.3% nationally and surged 173% in the Northern Territory.
Total drilling activity for the quarter reached 2,835.5 metres, slightly lower than the previous quarter but still 8.5% higher than Q3 2024. Greenfields exploration expenditure across the country reached $270.5 million in Q3, up 5.7% from the June quarter, though slightly below last year’s levels.
Western Australia continued to lead the way in discovery spending, while Queensland and the Northern Territory recorded the strongest quarter-to-quarter gains in greenfields activity, rising 26.9% and 36.3% respectively.
Despite the positive momentum, Pearce acknowledged a key challenge: exploration spending on existing projects now far outweighs investments in greenfield exploration by a ratio of three to one. He emphasized the need for continued support and investment in new mineral discoveries to secure Australia’s long-term economic growth.
This strong performance underscores Australia’s role as a global leader in mineral exploration, with gold, uranium, and other key commodities shaping the future of the nation’s resource landscape.
