The same fate will ultimately befall all the other mines in the district. Mines of course do not spring up overnight, they are the result of intensive expenditure and effort by mineral exploration companies. Further, to convert a viable mineral deposit into an operating mine can take many years, as long as 10 years in the case of the Century Mine. To ensure a thriving future mining industry, the pace of exploration must be maintained to provide a steady supply of prospects for development and evaluation. A once flourishing exploration industry has become a pale shadow of its former self as the negative impact of native title issues have effectively closed the door on exploration opportunity and investment in the Sunshine State.
Statistics tell the story.
The Australian Institute of Geoscientists estimates that between 1996 and 2000 the number of geologists working in Australia fell from 5600 to 3000. Large numbers of those remaining are currently unemployed. The mineral resource sector's plight is highlighted by ABS data on mineral exploration. This is the lowest expenditure in 15 years. This heavily reduced exploration effort has already effectively deprived the State's future economy of significant growth and job prospects.