Expenditure rates
Note
Please note that these rates are currently under review.
The expenditure rates for exploration licences and mining licences are shown below.
Rates for exploration licences
The minimum expenditure for each year is (a x b) + c, where:
- a = the $ amount per km2 or GDA94 graticular section
- b = the number of km2 or GDA94 graticular sections
- c = the fixed $ expenditure
| Year of licence | Metallic* mineral $ per km2 or $ per GDA94 graticular section | Non-metallic** mineral $ per km2 or $ per GDA94 graticular section | Fixed expenditure |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $150 | $75 | $15,000 |
| 2 | $200 (or $150***) | $120 (or $100***) | $15,000 |
| 3 | $200 | $120 | $15,000 |
| 4 | $200 | $120 | $15,000 |
| 5 | $300 | $150 | $15,000 |
| 6 to 10 | $500 (or $300***) | $250 (or $150***) | $15,000 |
| 11 plus | $1000 (or $300***) | $500 (or $150***) | $15,000 |
* e.g. gold, silver, lead, zinc, silver, antimony, diamonds
** e.g. mineral sands, gypsum, diatomite, kaolin, peat, feldspar
Note
- EL’s applied for before 1 July 2005 are calculated using a $ per Km2 rate
- EL’s applied for after 1 July 2005 are calculated using a $ per Km2 rate
- EL's applied for after 1 July 2005 are calculated using a $ per GDA94 graticular rate (refer to Earth Resources publications for further details of the GDA94 survey standards)
Rates for mining licences
Metallic* mineral
Excluding underground operations – see table below:
| Area of licence | Expenditure |
|---|---|
| 5 hectares or less | $15,000 per annum |
| Greater than 5 hectares and up to 10 hectares | $20,000 per annum |
Non-metallic** mineral
| Area of licence | Expenditure |
|---|---|
| 5 hectares or less | $5000 per annum |
| Greater than 5 hectares | $10,000 plus $200 per hectare per annum |
Note: Expenditure requirements do not apply to a licence for the mining of gypsum.
* e.g. gold, silver, lead, zinc, silver, antimony, diamonds
** e.g. mineral sands, gypsum, diatomite, kaolin, peat, feldspar
Underground metallic mineral operation
| Area of licence | Expenditure |
|---|---|
| 5 hectares or less | $14,000 per annum |
| Greater than 5 hectares to 10 hectares | $19,000 per annum |
| Greater than 10 hectares to 25 hectares | $22,000 per annum |
| Greater than 25 hectares | $850 per hectare per annum |
The MRSDA – section 14(6) allows a mining licensee to conduct mineral ‘exploration only’ for a specified period of up to two years. The following table relates to this case.
Exploration on a mining licence (metallic and non-metallic)
(Multiply the number of hectares by the “$ per hectare” rate and add to the “Fixed Expenditure” rate)
| Area of licence | Fixed expenditure | $ per hectare |
|---|---|---|
| 5 hectares or less | $15,000 | – |
| Greater than 5 hectares and up to 260 hectares | $15,000 | 100 |
| Greater than 260 hectares | $20,000 | $150 |
Page last updated: 16 Aug 2023