The total value of mineral production in the Northern Territory in 2021-22 was $4.86 billion, up 14% from the previous year’s figure of $4.28 billion. This is the second highest figure ever recorded in the NT, just below the record figure of $4.92 billion achieved in 2018-19. The increase in the value of mineral production can largely be attributed to higher manganese and zinc prices.
The value of manganese production rose 21% to $1.78 billion and the value of zinc-lead increased by 27% to $1.15 billion, which is the highest production value for zinc-lead recorded in the Territory. The volume of bauxite produced remained relatively consistent at 11.7 Mt in 2021-22. However, there was a 15% decrease in the value of production to $397 million due to a lower bauxite price. There was 2% increase in the volume of gold produced to 15.2 t, with a 4% increase in the value of gold production to $1.24 billion due to a slightly higher gold price.
Ranger Uranium mine sold its final 1,193t of uranium oxide for $166 million, 34% more than the 2020-21 amount due to a rise in the uranium price. 572,000 t of iron ore was produced with a value of $60.4 million. There was a substantial increase in both the quantity and value of mineral sands produced, with a 20% increase in production and 76% increase in value of product sold to $21.7 million. There was also a large increase in the value of extractive mineral production, largely comprising sand, gravel and crushed rock for the construction sector. The value of extractive mineral production increased by 30% from 2020-21 to $52.3 million.
For the 2021-22 mineral production figures visit DITT.