Figure 1

Figure 1. Total Mineral Resource Development Expenditures in Canada, 1997-2011 (1)
Year Exploration and Deposit Appraisal Off-Mine-Site and On-Mine-Site Mine Complex Development Other Capital (2) Costs (Construction, Machinery and Equipment) Repairs (2) to Structures, Machinery and Equipment
(2010 $ billions)
1997 1.217 1.143 2.989 2.159
1998 0.871 1.283 1.675 2.251
1999 0.658 1.115 1.142 1.686
2000 0.623 1.042 1.869 1.698
2001 0.636 1.028 2.201 1.894
2002 0.703 1.058 1.583 1.825
2003 0.815 0.934 1.231 1.749
2004 1.355 1.050 2.294 1.955
2005 1.453 1.260 2.872 1.618
2006 2.074 1.246 3.588 1.686
2007 2.976 1.437 4.698 1.921
2008 3.312 1.730 6.016 1.737
2009 2.002 1.915 4.592 2.042
2010 2.772 1.979 7.474 2.132
2011 3.792 2.132 8.841 n.a.

Source: Natural Resources Canada, based on the Survey of Mineral Exploration, Deposit Appraisal and Mine Complex Development Expenditures.
(1) Data for 2011 do not include repair and maintenance costs. (2) Includes expenditures related to exploration, deposit appraisal, and mine complex development.
Note: Data for 2011 are revised spending intentions.

Figure 2a

Figure 2a. Total Mineral Resource Development Expenditures in Canada, by Mineral Commodity, 2009 ($10.3 Billion)
Commodity Group Exploration and Deposit Appraisal Off-Mine-Site and On-Mine-Site Mine Complex Development Other Capital (1) Costs (Construction, Machinery and Equipment) Repairs (1) to Structures, Machinery and Equipment
($ billions)
Precious metals 0.989 0.647 0.922 0.371
Nonmetals 0.166 0.129 1.776 0.257
Base metals 0.297 0.578 0.453 0.384
Coal 0.057 0.053 0.330 0.408
Iron 0.061 0.071 0.456 0.193
Uranium 0.205 0.165 0.161 0.108
Diamonds 0.070 0.125 0.177 0.145
Other metals 0.099 0.093 0.186 0.117

Source: Natural Resources Canada, based on the Survey of Mineral Exploration, Deposit Appraisal and Mine Complex Development Expenditures.
(1) Includes expenditures related to exploration, deposit appraisal, and mine complex development.

Figure 2b

Figure 2b. Total Mineral Resource Development Expenditures in Canada, by Mineral Commodity, 2010 ($14.4 Billion)
Commodity Group Exploration and Deposit Appraisal Off-Mine-Site and On-Mine-Site Mine Complex Development Other Capital (1) Costs (Construction, Machinery and Equipment) Repairs (1) to Structures, Machinery and Equipment
($ billions)
Precious metals 1.444 0.750 1.994 0.394
Nonmetals 0.169 0.167 2.278 0.295
Base metals 0.552 0.514 1.037 0.500
Coal 0.058 0.106 0.594 0.394
Iron 0.110 0.044 0.611 0.240
Other metals 0.142 0.049 0.447 0.189
Uranium 0.190 0.154 0.347 0.098
Diamonds 0.107 0.195 0.166 0.023

Source: Natural Resources Canada, based on the Survey of Mineral Exploration, Deposit Appraisal and Mine Complex Development Expenditures.
(1) Includes expenditures related to exploration, deposit appraisal, and mine complex development.

Figure 3a

Figure 3a. Total Mineral Resource Development Expenditures in Canada, by Province and Territory, 2009 ($10.3 Billion)
Province/ Territory Exploration and Deposit Appraisal Off-Mine-Site and On-Mine-Site Mine Complex Development Other capital (1) Costs (Construction, Machinery and Equipment) Repairs (1) to Structures, Machinery and Equipment
($ billions)
Saskatchewan 0.31102 0.27452 1.52612 0.32990
Quebec 0.37935 0.40432 0.89595 0.36157
Ontario 0.53622 0.61009 0.40043 0.31064
British Columbia 0.21715 0.08556 0.45536 0.38822
New Brunswick 0.00806 0.02387 0.39670 0.06297
Northwest Territories 0.04410 0.11029 0.17506 0.13794
Nunavut 0.18758 0.08604 0.17184 0.00684
Alberta 0.00832 0.04438 0.19930 0.14266
Newfoundland and Labrador 0.05489 0.06019 0.13896 0.13169
Manitoba 0.09777 0.13008 0.05031 0.10121
Yukon 0.09090 0.02950 0.03786 0.00002
Nova Scotia 0.00900 0.00127 0.01324 0.01018

Source: Natural Resources Canada, based on the Survey of Mineral Exploration, Deposit Appraisal and Mine Complex Development Expenditures.
(1) Includes expenditures related to exploration, deposit appraisal, and mine complex development.

Figure 3b

Figure 3b. Total Mineral Resource Development Expenditures in Canada, by Province and Territory, 2010 ($14.4 Billion) and 2011 ($14.8 Billion) (1)
Province/ Territory Year Exploration and Deposit Appraisal Off-Mine-Site and On-Mine-Site Mine Complex Development Other Capital (2) Costs (Construction, Machinery and Equipment) Repairs (2) to Structures, Machinery and Equipment
($ billions)
Saskatchewan 2010 0.29936 0.28480 2.19899 0.36691
2011 0.32733 0.27376 2.35240 . .
Ontario 2010 0.85342 0.55643 0.89092 0.38589
2011 1.03135 0.53452 1.73304 . .
British Columbia 2010 0.37443 0.18022 1.23472 0.50564
2011 0.57729 0.18780 1.86338 . .
Quebec 2010 0.51159 0.41031 1.56149 0.43348
2011 0.71769 0.47248 1.28872 . .
Nunavut 2010 0.25675 0.02590 0.27145 0.04103
2011 0.39550 0.07403 0.11556 . .
Northwest Territories 2010 0.08173 0.16644 0.15500 0.00908
2011 0.08178 0.18651 0.13761 . .
Newfoundland and Labrador 2010 0.10520 0.05868 0.30029 0.10067
2011 0.15503 0.06714 0.58473 . .
Manitoba 2010 0.08354 0.11991 0.13676 0.05291
2011 0.11574 0.16602 0.20694 . .
Alberta 2010 0.01521 0.08487 0.15774 0.16055
2011 0.02951 0.05659 0.14944 . .
New Brunswick 2010 0.01715 0.06521 0.37929 0.05843
2011 0.03174 0.07847 0.33613 . .
Yukon 2010 0.15690 0.02575 0.17424 0.00716
2011 0.30920 0.03170 0.02596 . .
Nova Scotia 2010 0.01666 0.00098 0.01331 0.01065
2011 0.01938 0.00265 0.04718 . .

Source: Natural Resources Canada, based on the Survey of Mineral Exploration, Deposit Appraisal and Mine Complex Development Expenditures.
. . Not available.
(1) Data for 2011 do not include repair and maintenance costs. (2) Includes expenditures related to exploration, deposit appraisal, and mine complex development.
Note: Data for 2011 are revised spending intentions.

Figure 4a

Figure 4a. Area of New Mineral Claims Staked or Recorded in Canada, 1985-2010
Year Million Hectares
1985 4.44
1986 6.00
1987 7.02
1988 6.27
1989 5.06
1990 5.00
1991 5.40
1992 36.89
1993 27.00
1994 15.42
1995 16.14
1996 13.29
1997 43.95
1998 7.84
1999 5.67
2000 10.31
2001 11.16
2002 16.91
2003 10.40
2004 18.95
2005 22.98
2006 24.23
2007 26.90
2008 19.00
2009 10.85
2010 14.36

Source: Information obtained and compiled annually by Natural Resources Canada from provincial and territorial mining recorders.

Figure 4b

Figure 4b. Surface Diamond Drilling Statistics in Canada, 1985-2010
Year Metres
(000)		 Cost Per Metre
($)
1985 2 200 . .
1986 3 500 . .
1987 5 500 . .
1988 5 300 82.6
1989 2 984 79.8
1990 2 953 79.2
1991 1 861 79.5
1992 1 381 76.1
1993 1 526 81.4
1994 2 018 76.8
1995 2 372 96.4
1996 3 041 96.9
1997 2 577 109.0
1998 1 726 111.3
1999 1 595 88.1
2000 1 354 114.0
2001 1 326 108.0
2002 1 558 100.8
2003 1 925 120.1
2004 2 642 149.1
2005 3 001 154.7
2006 4 199 166.4
2007 5 564 204.6
2008 6 177 211.0
2009 3 861 187.9
2010 5 617 187.3

Source: Natural Resources Canada, based on the Survey of Mineral Exploration, Deposit Appraisal and Mine Complex Development Expenditures.
. . Not available.
Note: Data include surface diamond drilling in the exploration and deposit appraisal work phases only.

Figure 5

Figure 5. Exploration and Deposit Appraisal Expenditures (1) in Canada, by Type of Company With Number of Active Project Operators, (2) 1997-2011
Year Senior Companies Junior Companies
(2010 $ billions) (number) (2) (2010 $ billions) (number) (2)
1997 0.8231 155 0.3936 529
1998 0.6447 125 0.2264 479
1999 0.4738 122 0.1846 410
2000 0.4270 117 0.1956 387
2001 0.4154 110 0.2203 400
2002 0.4691 93 0.2339 463
2003 0.4784 96 0.3367 530
2004 0.6648 112 0.6897 589
2005 0.5607 100 0.8923 642
2006 0.7307 119 1.3432 649
2007 0.9741 134 2.0024 708
2008 1.1731 106 2.1387 715
2009 0.8583 94 1.1432 670
2010 1.2249 103 1.5470 733
2011 1.6161 133 2.1754 720

Source: Natural Resources Canada, based on the Survey of Mineral Exploration, Deposit Appraisal and Mine Complex Development Expenditures.
(1) Includes on-mine-site and off-mine-site activities. Includes field work, overhead, engineering, economic and pre- or production feasibility studies, environment, and land access costs. (2) Prospectors are excluded.
Note: Data for 2011 are revised spending intentions.

Figure 6

Figure 7. Exploration and Deposit Appraisal Expenditures (1) in Canada, by Mineral Commodity, by Type of Company and by Work Phase, 2010
Commodity Group Company Class Exploration Deposit Appraisal
($ millions)
Precious metals Senior 307.98 322.10
Junior 722.87 90.94
Base metals Senior 206.10 86.34
Junior 186.64 72.88
Iron ore Senior 5.83 17.19
Junior 55.34 31.68
Uranium Senior 59.98 26.40
Junior 84.85 19.22
Coal Senior 6.14 12.12
Junior 25.90 13.98
Nonmetals Senior 30.25 86.41
Junior 31.70 20.43
Other metals Senior 9.73 14.50
Junior 90.90 26.69
Diamonds Senior 23.11 10.72
Junior 43.58 29.43

Source: Natural Resources Canada, based on the Survey of Mineral Exploration, Deposit Appraisal and Mine Complex Development Expenditures.
(1) Includes on-mine-site and off-mine-site activities for field work, overhead, engineering, economic and pre- or production feasibility studies, environment and land access costs.
Note: Data for 2011 are revised spending intentions.

Figure 7

Figure 7. Exploration and Deposit Appraisal Expenditures (1) in Canada, by Mineral Commodity, by Type of Company and by Work Phase, 2010
Commodity Group Company Class Exploration Deposit Appraisal
($ millions)
Precious metals Senior 307.98 322.10
Junior 722.87 90.94
Base metals Senior 206.10 86.34
Junior 186.64 72.88
Iron ore Senior 5.83 17.19
Junior 55.34 31.68
Uranium Senior 59.98 26.40
Junior 84.85 19.22
Coal Senior 6.14 12.12
Junior 25.90 13.98
Nonmetals Senior 30.25 86.41
Junior 31.70 20.43
Other metals Senior 9.73 14.50
Junior 90.90 26.69
Diamonds Senior 23.11 10.72
Junior 43.58 29.43

Source: Natural Resources Canada, based on the Survey of Mineral Exploration, Deposit Appraisal and Mine Complex Development Expenditures.
(1) Includes on-mine-site and off-mine-site activities. Includes field work, overhead, engineering, economic and pre- or production feasibility studies, environment, and land access costs.

Figure 8

Figure 8. Exploration and Deposit Appraisal Expenditures (1) in Canada, by Province and Territory, 2010 and 2011
Province/ Territory 2010 Total = $2.8 billion 2011 Total = $3.8 billion
($ millions)
Newfoundland and Labrador 105.2 155.0
Nova Scotia 16.7 19.4
New Brunswick 17.1 31.7
Quebec 511.6 717.7
Ontario 853.4 1031.3
Manitoba 83.5 115.7
Saskatchewan 299.4 327.3
Alberta 15.2 29.5
British Columbia 374.4 577.3
Yukon 156.9 309.2
Northwest Territories 81.7 81.8
Nunavut 256.7 395.5

Source: Natural Resources Canada, based on the Survey of Mineral Exploration, Deposit Appraisal and Mine Complex Development Expenditures.
(1) Includes on-mine-site and off-mine-site activities. Includes field work, overhead, engineering, economic and pre- or production feasibility studies, environment, and land access costs.
Note: Data for 2011 are revised spending intentions.

Figure 9

Figure 9. Exploration and Deposit Appraisal Expenditures (1) in Canada, by Province and Territory and by Type of Company, 2010
Province/ Territory Senior Companies Junior Companies and Prospectors
($ millions)
Newfoundland and Labrador 46.27 58.92
Nova Scotia 9.69 6.97
New Brunswick 3.20 13.94
Quebec 237.43 274.16
Ontario 392.75 460.67
Manitoba 57.94 25.61
Saskatchewan 178.89 120.47
Alberta 12.18 3.03
British Columbia 90.74 283.69
Yukon 33.89 123.01
Northwest Territories 20.13 61.60
Nunavut 131.70 125.05

Source: Natural Resources Canada, based on the Survey of Mineral Exploration, Deposit Appraisal and Mine Complex Development Expenditures.
(1) Includes on-mine-site and off-mine-site activities. Includes field work, overhead, engineering, economic and pre- or production feasibility studies, environment, and land access costs.

Figure 10a

Figure 10a. Exploration, Deposit Appraisal, and Mine Complex Development Expenditures (1) in Canada, by Work Phase and Type of Activity, 2009
Work Phase/ Type of Activity Expenditure ($ millions) Percentage of Total (%)
EXPLORATION
Line cutting and claims 27.53 2.1
Geoscientific surveys (2) 291.45 22.2
Surface drilling (3) 668.99 51.0
Underground drilling (3) 26.76 2.0
Stripping 9.08 0.7
Rock work (4) 77.98 5.9
Engineering, economic, pre- or production feasibility 41.50 3.2
Environment (5) 21.86 1.7
Land access 3.38 0.3
Other field costs 88.12 6.7
Head office costs 54.46 4.2
Total 1 311.12 100.0
DEPOSIT APPRAISAL
Line cutting and claims 4.80 0.8
Geoscientific surveys (2) 28.58 4.5
Surface drilling (3) 121.93 19.3
Underground drilling (3) 35.64 5.6
Stripping 2.41 0.4
Rock work (4) 132.14 20.9
Engineering, economic, pre- or production feasibility 137.43 21.7
Environment (5) 58.77 9.3
Land access 7.35 1.2
Other field costs 54.79 8.7
Head office costs 49.41 7.8
Total 633.25 100.0
MINE COMPLEX DEVELOPMENT
Line cutting and claims 6.85 0.4
Geoscientific surveys (2) 36.08 1.9
Surface drilling (3) 95.45 5.1
Underground drilling (3) 135.57 7.3
Stripping 139.25 7.5
Rock work (4) 952.95 51.2
Engineering, economic, pre- or production feasibility 112.64 6.1
Environment (5) 90.63 4.9
Land access 18.33 1.0
Other field costs 69.47 3.7
Head office costs 202.89 10.9
Total 1 860.11 100.0

Source: Natural Resources Canada, based on the Survey of Mineral Exploration, Deposit Appraisal and Mine Complex Development Expenditures.
(1) Includes on-mine-site and off-mine-site activities. (2) Geoscientific surveys include geology, geochemistry, ground geophysics, and airborne geophysics. (3) Drilling includes diamond and other types of drilling. (4) Rock work activity includes shaft work, drifts, cross-cuts, raises, declines, and dewatering costs. (5) Environment includes characterization, permitting, protection, monitoring, and restoration.

Figure 10b

Figure 10b. Exploration, Deposit Appraisal, and Mine Complex Development Expenditures (1) in Canada, by Work Phase and Type of Activity, 2010
Work Phase/ Type of Activity Expenditure ($ millions) Percentage of Total (%)
EXPLORATION
Line cutting and claims 46.40 2.5
Geoscientific surveys (2) 418.10 22.1
Surface drilling (3) 999.10 52.8
Underground drilling (3) 67.10 3.5
Stripping 9.93 0.5
Rock work (4) 66.43 3.5
Engineering, economic, pre- or production feasibility 78.61 4.2
Environment (5) 39.40 2.1
Land access 4.91 0.3
Other field costs 94.71 5.0
Head office costs 66.16 3.5
Total 1 890.87 100.0
DEPOSIT APPRAISAL
Line cutting and claims 7.56 0.9
Geoscientific surveys (2) 33.50 3.8
Surface drilling (3) 131.30 14.9
Underground drilling (3) 60.0 6.8
Stripping 4.44 0.5
Rock work (4) 146.83 16.7
Engineering, economic, pre- or production feasibility 229.60 26.1
Environment (5) 84.63 9.6
Land access 35.03 4.0
Other field costs 78.07 8.9
Head office costs 70.05 8.0
Total 881.02 100.0
MINE COMPLEX DEVELOPMENT
Line cutting and claims 7.55 0.4
Geoscientific surveys (2) 59.10 3.0
Surface drilling (3) 111.40 5.6
Underground drilling (3) 125.90 6.4
Stripping 79.16 4.0
Rock work (4) 1 197.99 60.5
Engineering, economic, pre- or production feasibility 111.10 5.6
Environment (5) 123.67 6.2
Land access 28.65 1.4
Other field costs 43.92 2.2
Head office costs 91.04 4.6
Total 1 979.48 100.0

Source: Natural Resources Canada, based on the Survey of Mineral Exploration, Deposit Appraisal and Mine Complex Development Expenditures.
(1) Includes on-mine-site and off-mine-site activities. (2) Geoscientific surveys include geology, geochemistry, ground geophysics, and airborne geophysics. (3) Drilling includes diamond and other types of drilling. (4) Rock work activity includes shaft work, drifts, cross-cuts, raises, declines, and dewatering costs. (5) Environment includes characterization, permitting, protection, monitoring, and restoration.

Figure 11

Figure 11. Exploration and Deposit Appraisal Expenditures (1) in Canada, On- and Off-Mine-Site, 1997-2011
Year Exploration Off-Mine-Site Deposit Appraisal Off-Mine-Site Exploration and Deposit Appraisal On-Mine-Site
(2010 $ millions)
1997 755.7 239.1 221.9
1998 524.5 174.8 171.9
1999 352.8 192.4 113.3
2000 390.8 140.2 91.5
2001 420.1 127.1 88.6
2002 425.6 179.0 98.4
2003 567.1 146.4 101.6
2004 942.0 255.6 157.0
2005 1 135.6 182.7 134.6
2006 1 519.1 400.0 154.8
2007 2 251.3 521.9 203.2
2008 2 278.5 767.9 265.5
2009 1 275.5 515.4 210.6
2010 1 790.1 755.1 226.7
2011 2 554.6 847.9 389.1

Source: Natural Resources Canada, based on the Survey of Mineral Exploration, Deposit Appraisal and Mine Complex Development Expenditures.
EX-OFF: Exploration off-mine-site. DA-OFF: Deposit appraisal off-mine-site. EX+DA-ON: Exploration plus deposit appraisal on-mine-site.
(1) Includes field work, overhead, engineering, economic and pre- or production feasibility studies, environment, and land access costs.
Note: Data for 2011 are revised spending intentions.