data sources The statistics in this publication are obtained from several sources, as follows. The bulk of mine produc tion data (other than petroleum) is obtained from companies, published company reports and ABARE estimates. Data are supplemented where necessary by information from state mines departments (or their equivalents). Petroleum production and sales are based on data obtained from the Resources Division of the Australian Government Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources. Smelter and refinery production data are provided by companies operating the major smelters and refineries. Trade data are obtained from official ABS compiled statistics, supplemented by ABARE estimates where necessary. Price information is from published sources. The assistance of the organisations supplying data is gratefully acknowledged by ABARE. note on mine production data In most instances, data refer to actual mine output. However, in a small number of cases, despatches or sales data are used as proxies for production. Quantities of minerals produced are reported in terms of the product in which they leave each mine site. This includes various stages of ore dressing, processing and elementary smelting where these are carried out in an associated plant at, or near, the mine. The output is recorded as ore where no treatment is undertaken at the mine, or as a concentrate where ore dressing operations are carried out.