Australia is one of the top mineral producers in the world and has a large resource inventory of most of the world's key minerals commodities - producing 19 minerals in significant amounts from nearly 400 operating mines. Many other minerals are also found in less significant amounts.
Australia is the world's leading producer of bauxite, ilmenite, iron ore, rutile and zircon; the second largest producer of gold, lead, lithium, manganese ore and zinc; the third largest producer of uranium; the fourth largest producer of black coal (also the largest exporter), nickel and silver; and the fifth largest producer of cobalt, copper and diamond.
Australia has the world's largest resources of gold, iron ore, lead, nickel, rutile, uranium, zinc and zircon as well as the second largest resources of bauxite, cobalt, copper, ilmenite, niobium, silver, tantalum and thorium. Australia's resources of black coal, brown coal, magnesite, tungsten, lithium, manganese ore, rare earths and vanadium are ranked in the top five in the world.
Australia's mineral resources are an important component of the nation's wealth. Minerals are Australia's largest export, and are an important part of the Australian economy, accounting for ten per cent of gross domestic product (GDP) and employs over a quarter of a million people directly. Australia's mineral resources are adequate for mining to continue as the most important export earning sector of the Australian economy for the foreseeable future.
The cache can be found at S 32° 3A.BCD E 115° 5E.FGH
A = Mercury - Titanium
B = Lead - Cobalt
C = Aluminium - Rhodium
D = Zinc - Iron
E = Tin - Tungsten
F = Gold - Strontium
G = Coal - Vanadium
H = Silver - Manganese