Minerals and metals statistics: exploration

Data on mineral exploration and development in Canada. You can use this data to understand Canadian exploration activities and make informed decisions. Mineral exploration and development are a major part of the mineral and mining industry in Canada and can indicate the health of the industry.

On this page you can find expenditures by:

• Mineral commodity sought
• Location of work (province and territory)
• Company classification (junior or senior company)
• Type of work (drilling, feasibility studies, etc.)
• Work phase (exploration, deposit appraisal or mine complex development)

About the survey program

Natural Resources Canada, working in partnership with Statistics Canada, provides national statistics on mineral exploration and development through the bi-annual Survey of Mineral Exploration, Deposit Appraisal and Mine Complex Development Expenditures. NRCan co-ordinates with provincial and territorial governments to collect, assemble and publish these statistics for both junior and senior mining companies. The data covers the evolution of mineral projects, from exploration up until production. Data is aggregated to protect the confidentiality of respondents.

The methods and definitions for this survey are established by a federal and provincial/territorial committee to ensure they are harmonized across Canada. Learn more about the methods and definitions.

Pre-production phases covered through this survey include:

• Exploration: determining the location, size and shape of mineral deposits
• Deposit appraisal: carrying out the steps needed (such as drilling, testing and planning) to determine the feasibility of the mineral deposit and mine site
• Mine complex development: conducting activities at the mine site to access the mineral(s) and prepare them for production

The survey covers on-mine-site and off-mine-site spending. “On-mine-site” includes expenses or work done in an area that (1) can be accessed from active or committed infrastructure and (2) is covered by the same permits as a producing mine or a mine committed to production.

“Off-mine-site" includes expenses or work done in an area that is not covered by the same permits as a producing or committed mine site. For example, it can include infrastructure that are essential parts of the mine complex, but are located outside of the on-mine-site area, such as roads, docks and airports.

Statistics

This section includes preliminary statistics, annual statistics, survey forms and survey definitions.

• Preliminary estimates and spending intentions
  Preliminary expenditures are estimated by each company based on their spending for the year at the time of the survey. Spending intentions are what the company plans to spend during the following calendar year. Preliminary estimates and spending intentions are collected from companies during October of the same calendar year that preliminary estimates are reported for.
  • By mineral commodity sought, 2018-2023
  • By province and territory, 2018-2023
  • By junior and senior companies, by province and territory, 2018-2023
  • By province and territory, by mineral commodity sought, 2020
  • By province and territory, by mineral commodity sought, 2021
  • By province and territory, by mineral commodity sought, 2022
  • By province and territory, by mineral commodity sought, 2023
  • By activity, by province and territory, 2020
  • By activity, by province and territory, 2021
  • Exploration and deposit appraisal expenditures separately, by province and territory, 2018-2023
  • Total mineral resource development investments, 2022-2023
  • Total mineral resource development investments, by province and territory, 2020-2023
• Annual expenditures and revised spending intentions
  Annual expenditures are the company’s final, total accumulated spending from the previous calendar year. Revised spending intentions are the company’s updated spending plans for the new calendar year. Annual expenditures and revised spending intentions are collected during April.
  • By mineral commodity sought, 2017-2022
  • By province and territory, 2018-2022
  • By junior and senior companies, by province and territory, 2018-2022
  • By province and territory, by mineral commodity sought, 2020
  • By province and territory, by mineral commodity sought, 2021
  • By province and territory, by mineral commodity sought, 2022
  • By activity, by province and territory, 2019
  • By activity, by province and territory, 2020
  • By activity, by province and territory, 2021
  • Exploration and deposit appraisal expenditures separately, by province and territory, 2018-2022
  • Total mineral resource development investments, 2021-2022
  • Total mineral resource development investments, by province and territory, 2019-2022
• Survey Form: Mineral Resource Development
  Access the survey forms and guides.
• Survey Definitions and Methodology of Mineral Exploration
  Access the survey methodology and key definitions.