MINERAL exploration spending in WA rose by 12.2 per cent, or $21.7 million, in the December quarter, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Petroleum exploration expenditure also jumped by $56.2 million, or 19.4 per cent, over the quarter. However, Association of Mining and Exploration Companies spokesman Ian Loftus said that while the data was encouraging, WA’s mineral explorers could not afford to become complacent.