Spending on non-petroleum mineral exploration in Tasmania in the December quarter was the weakest in three years, according to trend terms estimates from the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

The ABS estimated $3.3 million was spent during the quarter, down from $3.8 million in the previous quarter and $4.3 million in the quarter before that.

The latest total was less than a third of the record $10.2 million recorded in 2012.

Annual spending of $16 million to the end of December was significantly weaker than the $22.2 million total for the previous year.

The December quarter figures were from before the coronavirus outbreak, which has raised concerns in the mining sector over the potential effects of a drawn-out Chinese economic slowdown

Mineral exploration had fallen for eight quarters in a row under the state Liberals' watch, Shadow Resources Minister Shane Broad said.

Dr Broad said the government had "yet again demonstrated its ability to buck national trends and trash what should be a stable industry".

"While mineral exploration has grown by 26 per cent nationally, the Liberals have sat on their hands as mineral exploration in Tasmania has been slashed by 33 per cent.

"This is by far the worst result for the industry of any state or territory and the Liberals should be ashamed.

"The Liberals keep telling us that Tasmania has never been in better shape, but not all Tasmanians are sharing in prosperity and the further you travel away from Hobart, the truer that becomes.

"Mining and its supply chain industries provide employment for thousands of Tasmanians, particularly in regional areas."

Comment was being sought from the government.

Mineral exploration is seen as vital to the industry because it is what identifies new mines and extensions to existing mines.

Some of the more prominent mineral exploration developments in recent times have included: