About Australia's mineral commodities
Australia is a primary producer of minerals for the world.
The nation'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 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 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.
The strength of the mineral resource 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.
How is RET involved?
The Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism (RET) has policy responsibility for a number of mineral commodities:
Additionally, the department's statistical research unit, the Bureau of Resources and Energy Economics (BREE) produces information and forecasts on production, exports and values of major resources and energy commodities.
More information
For more information about Australia's mineral commodities, see the
Geoscience Australia website. Geoscience Australia is an agency within the Resources, Energy and Tourism portfolio, which has a critical role in producing first class geoscientific information and knowledge.