Minerals and resources[edit]
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.
Silica
Rare earth elements