ABSTRACT
The objective of this chapter is to provide as firm a factual basis as possible for debate about patterns of mineral exploration spending throughout the world, both geographically and over time. The data compiled for this purpose are presented in the chapter's statistical appendix. 1 After describing some of the major problems in gathering, arranging, and utilizing these data, the chapter focuses on a few of the many possible conclusions that can be drawn from them. The sections that follow (1) summarize statistics on mineral exploration expenditures, (2) discuss trends in these expenditures, (3) consider aspects of exploration costs such as the relative effectiveness of expenditures in different parts of the world, and (4) describe the roles of public and private organizations that are active in the various stages of exploration.
