Australia’s mining sector is one of its most successful export industries. It employs over 7,000 people directly and more than 250,000 indirectly. It accounts for 40 percent of the country’s total exports. Australia’s mineral industry is the third largest in the world. Australia is the largest producer in the world of bauxite, alumina, lead and mineral sands. It is also the world’s largest exporter of black coal. Bauxite, alumina, diamonds and mineral sands, and is a substantial exporter of iron ore, aluminum, lead, zinc, copper, uranium yellowcake and gold.