EXPENDITURE across mineral and petroleum exploration decreased in the June quarter 2016, according to ABS data released yesterday.

The trend estimate for total mineral exploration expenditure decreased two per cent (-$7.1m) to $343.0m in the quarter.

The largest contributor to this fall was Queensland (down 15.4 per cent, -$8.0m). The current quarter estimate is 4.2 per cent lower than the June quarter 2015 estimate. However, in original terms and when seasonally adjusted, mineral exploration expenditure rose.

The trend estimate for total petroleum exploration expenditure fell 19.4 per cent (-$76.8m) to $318.4m in the June quarter. Exploration expenditure on production leases fell 31.2 per cent (-$26.3m) and exploration expenditure on all other areas fell 12.7 per cent (-$39.3m). The estimate also decreased when seasonally adjusted.

Click here for further detail on mineral and petroleum exploration expenditure.