The ASX is home to hundreds of mining and resource companies but, arguably, the cream of the crop can be found on the S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO).
But which led the pack in the 2021 financial year? Luckily, The Motley Fool has scoured the ASX 200 to bring you this list of FY21's best performers.
So, without further ado, we bring you the top performing mining and resource shares of the financial year just been.
Top 5 ASX 200 mining and resource shares of FY21
Shareholders of these companies, get ready to rejoice.
Pilbara Minerals Ltd (ASX: PLS)
The Pilbara Minerals share price topped all ASX 200 mining and resource shares in the 2021 financial year – gaining an epic 480% in the process.
At the beginning of the financial year, Pilbara shares were trading at 25 cents apiece. By its end, they were swapping hands for $1.45.
The Pilbara share price rallied this year alongside global demand for lithium.
Pilbara Minerals claims to be the ASX's leading pure-play lithium producer, with operations in Western Australia. The company also produces tantalum, which is generally used in alloys and as a filament because of its strength and high melting point.
The company has a market capitalisation of around $4.2 billion, with approximately 2.9 billion shares outstanding.
Lynas Rare Earths Ltd (ASX: LYC)
The financial year that's just been was a crazy time for Lynas Rare Earths shares, but they pulled through to gain a whopping 200%.
The Lynas share price closed at $1.90 on 30 June 2020. Exactly 12 months later, it finished the day at $5.71.
Lynas is the globe's second largest producer of rare earths, and the only major producer outside of China. It has assets in Western Australia and a processing plant in Malaysia.
The company has a market capitalisation of around $5.1 billion, with approximately 901 million shares outstanding.
Mineral Resources Ltd (ASX: MIN)
The Mineral Resources share price increased by almost 154% during the 2021 financial year.
The company's shares started FY21 at $21.17. By its end, they had grown to trade for $53.73.
Mineral Resources produces iron ore and lithium, and its business is booming.
The company has a market cap of around $10.4 billion, with approximately 188 million shares outstanding.
Champion Iron Ltd (ASX: CIA)
Champion Iron shares gained an impressive 124% over the 12 months ended 30 June 2021.
The Champion share price started the financial year at $2.86 and, by the time the year was over, it was trading at $6.38.
There is likely no need to tell you that Champion Iron is, indeed, an iron ore miner. It has operations in Québec, as well as one in Canada's Newfoundland and Labrador.
Champion was perfectly positioned to take advantage of record-high iron ore prices earlier this year, and it's announced some pretty impressive results lately.
It has a market cap of around $3.3 billion, with approximately 506 million shares outstanding.
Oz Minerals Limited (ASX: OZL)
Last, but certainly not least, is Oz Minerals. After starting the financial year at $10.96, the Oz Minerals share price gained 98% to end it at $22.48.
Oz Minerals is the ASX's only pure-play copper producer, and its recent strong performance, together with the increasing price of copper, saw it reach a 13-year high in February.
Unfortunately for shareholders, the Oz Minerals share price slipped 11% in June, crowning it as one of the ASX 200's worst performers that month.
Oz Minerals has a market cap of around $7.3 billion, with approximately 332 million shares outstanding.
