BHP Billiton S Africa : copper exploration program update

BHP today confirmed identification of a potential new iron oxide, copper, gold (IOCG) mineralised system, located 65 kilometres to the south east of BHP's operations at Olympic Dam in South Australia.

As part of BHP's ongoing copper exploration program, four diamond drill holes, totalling 5346 metres, intersected copper, gold, uranium and silver mineralisation of IOCG style on BHP's exploration licence 5941.

Laboratory assay results show downhole mineralisation intercepts ranging from 0.5 per cent to six per cent copper with associated gold, uranium and silver metals. The results are shown in the table below.

This exploration project is at an early stage and there is currently insufficient geological information to assess the size, quality and continuity of the mineralised intersections. BHP is evaluating and interpreting the results reported and planning a further drilling program, to commence in early 2019.

BHP's copper exploration program has targeted the Stuart Shelf in South Australia as part of a focused global program which includes Ecuador, Canada, Peru, Chile and the south west of the United States.

Copper and oil are the main focus of BHP's exploration programs in order to replenish our resource base and enhance our portfolio.

Hole ID	From	To	Length1 m	Cu %	AU g/t	U ppm	Ag g/t
AD-22	936	1060.5	124.5	0.52	0.48	85	3.37
AD-23	1063	1488.7	425.7	3.04	0.59	346	6.03
AD-23 inc.	1070	1250	180	6.07	0.92	401	12.77
AD-24	848	1254	406	0.66	0.35	266	2.09
AD-25	1193	1270	77	2.11	0.54	327	2.94

¹ Not true widths

Appendix 1 (PDF 384 kb) contains further information in relation to this exploration project.