Australia is one of the world's most resource-rich nations and the third largest producer of gold. It holds the largest known economic resources of silver, bauxite, iron ore, lead, zinc, uranium, industrial diamonds and mineral sands, as well as extensive deposits of other key minerals and gems. Overall, mineral exploration and development in Australia is well developed and stable, with world-class infrastructure, excellent land access systems, abundant and competitively priced energy and a skilled and productive workforce. A high level of mineral development, particularly in the gold sector, excess mill capacity and readily available contract mining make it possible to achieve production from newly defined deposits quickly and with relatively minimal capital outlay. Despite these advantages, parts of Australia remain under-developed, generating opportunities for companies with expertise in innovative exploration techniques to find and develop as yet untapped mineral deposits.
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