The energy crisis was good for coal stocks while the energy transition boosted battery metal players.

Rare earths hopeful Lindian Resources was one of the top performers of the year, up more than 415% for the year, despite recent softness in its share price.

The company's main focus is the Kangankunde rare earths project in Malawi.

Newcomer WA1 Resources is up 392% for the year after making an interesting-looking niobium, rare earths and tantalum discovery in Western Australia.

Coal producer Terracom was up 388% in 2022 after clearing its debt and resuming dividends.

Quantum Graphite, focused on the former Uley graphite mine in South Australia, was up nearly 335%.

Coal major Whitehaven Coal hit all-time highs this year and was up 280% year-to-date as of Friday, while fellow ASX 200 coal producers New Hope Corporation and Yancoal gained 181% and 126%, respectively.

Stanmore Coal was up almost 210%.

Due to exploration success in Norseman, Galileo Mining had a good year with a gain of nearly 270%.

Brazil-focused lithium explorer Latin Resources was up more than 220% after recently reporting a maiden resource for its Salinas project.

All of Meteoric Resources' 165% 2022 gain came this month after the company acquired a rare earths project.

Rare earths explorer Dreadnought Resources and lithium explorer Winsome Resources each enjoyed 140% rises this year.