Mineral exploration activity in the Northern Territory remains strong, especially for gold and copper.
In 2020 calendar year, mineral exploration expenditure in the Northern Territory (NT) was $110.8 million, down 16% from the previous year, largely due to Covid-19 related restrictions. Growth in the mineral exploration sector in the NT was strong from 2017 to 2019, largely driven by substantial increases in gold and copper-gold exploration. Since 2019, there has been a substantial uptake in new exploration tenure in the Barkly Tableland region, east and northeast of Tennant Creek.
Mineral exploration expenditure in 2020: $110.8 million
Proportion of exploration in greenfields areas: 31%
Granted exploration licences (1 January 2021): 773
