There were three explorers in 2021 with gains of more than 1000% - one in iron ore and two in lithium, which both reached record price highs this year.

The biggest mover in 2021 was low-key Red Hill Iron, which was up 1655% as of yesterday's close.

Red Hill Iron had been extremely quiet for many years and reported cash of just A$92,000 at the end of June.

In August, the company announced the sale of its primary asset, a 40% stake in the 820 million tonne Red Hill iron ore deposit in the Pilbara, to Mineral Resources for up to $400 million.

The company received $200 million cash up front and will receive a further $200 million on the first shipment of iron ore, while Red Hill will receive as well as a 0.75% royalty on revenue from all iron ore mined from the tenements, as well as MinRes' Bungaroo South tenement if it is developed in association with Red Hill.

Lithium developer Sayona Mining was in second spot, with a gain of 1217% or 11c.

Sayona has taken advantage of strong lithium market conditions to growth.

Piedmont Lithium made an investment in Sayona at the start of the year, which allowed Sayona Quebec, a 75:25 joint venture between Sayona and Piedmont, to acquire North American Lithium for C$200 million.

Sayona also paid US$86.5 million for a 65% stake in the Moblan lithium project in Quebec.

Fellow lithium developer Lake Resources gained nearly 1100% for the year.

Lake has captured the market's attention as it advanced its Kachi lithium project in Argentina.

There were another four companies with gains of more than 500% for the year.

They were graphite developer Renascor Resources (up 945%), explorer Arizona Lithium (844%), Bill Beament's Develop (609%) and Ecuador copper explorer Sunstone Metals (535%).

While lithium companies dominated the major movers, the largest by market capitalisation to record a major move was new ASX 200 entrant Liontown Resources with a 373%.

Paladin Energy's 222% rise also saw it join the ASX 200 this week.

The worst performer of the year was Atrum Coal, which slumped after the government of Alberta changed the rules on coal mining.

Shares in the company were down nearly 90% for the year.

Coal developer-turned-renewable energy hopeful Montem Resources lost 78% after facing the same difficulties as Atrum.

Morella Corporation, formerly Altura Mining, which was reinstated to trading just last week after being in voluntary administration, fell 84%.