Mineral Exploration and Development

New data - February 2026

Mineral exploration and development statistics from Natural Resources Canada’s (NRCan) Survey of Mineral Exploration, Deposit Appraisal and Mine Complex Development Expenditures are now available for reference years 2025 and 2026. The data for 2025 are preliminary. The data for 2026 are intended expenditures from exploration, deposit appraisal and development projects in Canada.

This data can be accessed through NRCan’s data tables.

Minerals are important to the Canadian economy and our everyday lives. They create jobs and supply materials for everyday goods, infrastructure, and renewable energy components. Mineral exploration and development are important stages of the mining process where companies make major investments to locate, assess, and develop mineral deposits into mines. Information on the state of mineral resource development is useful in monitoring the long-term viability of Canada’s mining industry, and can inform policy and investment decisions.

In collaboration with provincial and territorial governments, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is responsible for collecting, compiling, and publishing comprehensive statistical information on Canadian mineral exploration and development activities using the Survey of Mineral Exploration, Deposit Appraisal and Mine Complex Development Expenditures.

Data visualizations
Learn more about mineral exploration and development activities in Canada through the new interactive data visualization project of NRCan, which is aligned with the Government of Canada’s shift to open data and digital-first solutions. A result of close collaboration and consultation with industry and government stakeholders, this four-part web page features more accessible and versatile data, and allows users to gain deeper insights.