Australian metal ore and mineral quarterly exports ($A millions) since 1969.
Large quantities of minerals and resources are extracted in Australia. These
include:
-
Iron ore Australia was the world's third largest supplier in 2008 after China
and Brazil, supplying 342 million metric
tonnes.:[7]
-
Nickel Australia was the world's second largest producer in 2006 after
Russia.[8]
-
Bauxite/aluminium - Australia was the world's largest producer in
2011.[9]
-
Copper
-
Gold Australia is the second largest producer after
China.[10]
-
Silver
-
Uranium Australia is responsible for 11% of the world's production and was
the world's third largest producer in 2010 after Kazakhstan and
Canada.[11]
-
Diamond Australia has the third largest commercially-viable deposits after
Russia and
Botswana.:[citation
needed] Australia also boasts the richest diamantiferous pipe
with production reaching peak levels of 42 metric tons (41 LT/46 ST) per
year in the
1990s.:[citation
needed]
-
Opal Australia is the world's largest producer of opal, being responsible
for 95% of
production.[12]
-
Zinc Australia was second only to China in zinc production in 2008, producing
just under 14% of world
production.[13]
-
Coal Australia is the world's largest exporter of coal and fourth largest
producer of coal behind China, USA and
India.[14]
-
Oil shale
-
Petroleum: Australia is the twenty-eighth largest producer of
petroleum.:[citation
needed]
-
Natural gas - Australia is world's third largest producer of LNG and forecast
to be world leader by 2020.
-
Rare earth elements
Much of the raw material mined in Australia is exported overseas to countries
such as China for processing into refined product. Energy and minerals constitute
two thirds of Australia's total exports to China, and more than half of
Australia's iron ore exports are to
China.[15]