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Australia
Olympic Dam Mine

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 Location:
81 km N from Woomera, South Australia, Australia

  Regional Office:
10 Franklin St.
Adelaide
South Australia, Australia
5000
Phone  ...  Subscription required
Fax(61-3)-9609-3333
WebsiteWeb
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  • Overview
  • Owners
  • Geology
  • Mining
  • Processing
  • Production
  • Reserves
  • Costs & Financials
  • Personnel
  • Filings & News

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Overview

StageProduction
Mine TypeUnderground
Commodities
  • Copper
  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Uranium
Mining Method
  • Sub-level open stoping (SLOS)
Processing
  • Hydrometallurgical plant / circuit
  • Smelting
  • Acid leach
  • Flotation
  • Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
  • Electrorefining
  • Cyanide (reagent)
Mine Life40 years (as of Jan 1, 2021)
Olympic Dam is one of the world’s most significant deposits of copper, gold, silver and uranium. It comprises underground and surface operations, and is a fully integrated processing facility from ore to metal.
Latest NewsOlympic Dam contract for Foraco     May 31, 2022


Owners

Source: p. 231
CompanyInterestOwnershipInvestor's Info
BHP Group Ltd. 100 % Indirect
BHP Billiton Olympic Dam Corporation Pty Ltd. (operator) 100 % Direct
Olympic Dam is owned by the BHP Billiton Group through its wholly owned subsidiary BHP Billiton Olympic Dam Corporation Pty Ltd (ODC).

Deposit Type

  • IOCG


Summary:

RD1 drilled through 335m of flat-lying Proterozoic and Cambrian sediments before passing through an unconformity into haematite altered basement rocks. In theory the copper mineralisation was supposed to be in the overlying sediments but assays revealed fine-grained hypogene chalcocite in the basement. RD1 returned 38m @ 1.05%Cu, which was considered uneconomic at these depths at this time, but RD10 changed that with an intersection of 170m @ 2.12%Cu and 0.58kg/t U3O8 and is considered the “Discovery Hole”.

However, following initial underground development in 1985-1987, it became apparent that none of the mineralisation was stratabound and that it was hosted in a highly variable magmatic-hydrothermal breccia complex that displays multiple brecciation, diatreme intrusions, mafic and ultramafic dyke intrusions along with interpreted gravity collapse of high level volcanic edifice material. The deposit is considered to be a member of the Iron Oxide Copper Gold (IOCG) family of deposits and has a close temporal and spatial association with the Hiltaba Suite of granites, dated at 1590Ma and more specifically the more fractionated and oxidised Roxby Downs subsuite (1588Ma).

The main lithologies at Olympic Dam comprise a continuum of breccias starting at the periphery with granite clasts set in little haematite matrix progressing into the centre where the clasts are wholly haematite in a haematite matrix. The principal gangue minerals are haematite, sericite and quartz. Minor gangue minerals include; siderite, chlorite, fluorite and barite.

The dominant sulphide minerals are chalcopyrite, bornite, chalcocite and pyrite. Minor sulphides include; carrolite, cobaltite, galena, sphalerite and molybdenite. Other minerals of interest are; metallic copper, electrum, Ag-, Hg-, Pb-, Bi-selenides and tellurides. The uranium at Olympic Dam occurs mostly as uraninite, coffinite or brannerite with trace amounts in zircon, monazite, florencite and bastinite.


Mining Methods

  • Sub-level open stoping (SLOS)


Summary:

Ore mined underground is hauled by an automated train system to crushing, storage and ore hoisting facilities or trucked directly to the surface.

The Olympic Dam ore body begins about 300 metres below the surface and continues to a depth of more than 1 kilometre. The existing mining operation employs a sub-level open stope method of underground mining. The underground operation includes crushing stations, vertical ventilation shafts and an automated rail network, used to produce and transport crushed ore to the surface, where conveyors move the ore to the processing plant.


Crushing and Grinding


Processing

  • Hydrometallurgical plant / circuit
  • Smelting
  • Acid leach
  • Flotation
  • Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
  • Electrorefining
  • Cyanide (reagent)

Source: Subscription required

Summary:

Olympic Dam has a fully integrated metallurgical complex with a grinding and concentrating circuit, a hydrometallurgical plant incorporating solvent extraction circuits for copper and uranium, a copper smelter, a copper refinery, including an electro-refinery and an electrowinning-refinery, and a recovery circuit for precious metals.

2 grinding circuits. Nominal milling capacity: 10.3 Mtpa. Flash furnace produces copper anodes, then refined to produce copper cathodes. Electrowon copper cathode and uranium oxide concentrate produced by leaching and solvent extracting flotation tailings. Gold cyanide leach circuit and gold room producing gold bullion.

Recoveries & Grades:

CommodityParameter2021202020192018201720162015
Copper Recovery Rate, %  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required94949494
Copper Head Grade, %  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required2.192.32.011.86
Gold Recovery Rate, %  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required70697071
Silver Recovery Rate, %  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required64646464
Uranium (U3O8) Recovery Rate, %  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required72697273
Uranium (U3O8) Head Grade, g/t  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required640620610570

Production:

CommodityProductUnits2022202120202019201820172016
Copper kt  ......  Subscription required ^
Copper Cathode kt  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required137166203
Gold Metal in doré oz  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required
Silver Metal in doré koz  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required
Uranium (U3O8) Metal in concentrate M lbs  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required
^ Guidance / Forecast.
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Operational Metrics:

Metrics202120202019201820172016
Ore tonnes mined  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required9,094 kt7,499 kt8,008 kt8,932 kt
Tonnes milled  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required7,965 kt7,215 kt8,604 kt9,699 kt
Annual milling capacity  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required10.3 Mt10.3 Mt10.3 Mt10.3 Mt
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

Reserves at June 30, 2021:
Cut-off criteria:
Mineral Resources: OC Sulphide - Variable between 0.10%Cu and 0.30%Cu; UG Sulphide - Variable between 0.80%Cu and 1.30%Cu.
Ore Reserves: UG Sulphide - Variable between 1.10%Cu and 1.70%Cu; Low-grade - 0.60%Cu

CategoryOreTypeTonnage CommodityGrade
Proven In-Situ (UG) 239 Mt Copper 2.09 %
Proven In-Situ (UG) 239 Mt Gold 0.73 g/t
Proven In-Situ (UG) 239 Mt Silver 5 g/t
Proven In-Situ (UG) 239 Mt Uranium (U3O8) 610 g/t
Probable In-Situ (UG) 174 Mt Copper 1.97 %
Probable Low-grade sulphide 31 Mt Copper 0.83 %
Probable In-Situ (UG) 174 Mt Gold 0.66 g/t
Probable Low-grade sulphide 31 Mt Gold 0.34 g/t
Probable In-Situ (UG) 174 Mt Silver 4 g/t
Probable Low-grade sulphide 31 Mt Silver 2 g/t
Probable In-Situ (UG) 174 Mt Uranium (U3O8) 600 g/t
Probable Low-grade sulphide 31 Mt Uranium (U3O8) 270 g/t
Proven & Probable In-Situ (UG) 413 Mt Copper 2.04 %
Proven & Probable Low-grade sulphide 31 Mt Copper 0.83 %
Proven & Probable In-Situ (UG) 413 Mt Gold 0.7 g/t
Proven & Probable Low-grade sulphide 31 Mt Gold 0.34 g/t
Proven & Probable In-Situ (UG) 413 Mt Silver 5 g/t
Proven & Probable Low-grade sulphide 31 Mt Silver 2 g/t
Proven & Probable In-Situ (UG) 413 Mt Uranium (U3O8) 610 g/t
Proven & Probable Low-grade sulphide 31 Mt Uranium (U3O8) 270 g/t
Measured In-Situ (OP) 3,600 Mt Copper 0.66 %
Measured In-Situ (UG) 510 Mt Copper 1.73 %
Measured In-Situ (OP) 3,600 Mt Gold 0.34 g/t
Measured In-Situ (UG) 510 Mt Gold 0.68 g/t
Measured In-Situ (OP) 3,600 Mt Silver 1 g/t
Measured In-Situ (UG) 510 Mt Silver 4 g/t
Measured In-Situ (OP) 3,600 Mt Uranium (U3O8) 210 g/t
Measured In-Situ (UG) 510 Mt Uranium (U3O8) 500 g/t
Indicated In-Situ (OP) 3,330 Mt Copper 0.6 %
Indicated In-Situ (UG) 480 Mt Copper 1.62 %
Indicated In-Situ (OP) 3,330 Mt Gold 0.25 g/t
Indicated In-Situ (UG) 480 Mt Gold 0.59 g/t
Indicated In-Situ (OP) 3,330 Mt Silver 1 g/t
Indicated In-Situ (UG) 480 Mt Silver 3 g/t
Indicated In-Situ (OP) 3,330 Mt Uranium (U3O8) 200 g/t
Indicated In-Situ (UG) 480 Mt Uranium (U3O8) 480 g/t
Inferred In-Situ (OP) 3,170 Mt Copper 0.6 %
Inferred In-Situ (UG) 80 Mt Copper 1.58 %
Inferred In-Situ (OP) 3,170 Mt Gold 0.24 g/t
Inferred In-Situ (UG) 80 Mt Gold 0.65 g/t
Inferred In-Situ (OP) 3,170 Mt Silver 1 g/t
Inferred In-Situ (UG) 80 Mt Silver 3 g/t
Inferred In-Situ (OP) 3,170 Mt Uranium (U3O8) 200 g/t
Inferred In-Situ (UG) 80 Mt Uranium (U3O8) 430 g/t
Total Resource In-Situ (OP) 10,100 Mt Copper 0.62 %
Total Resource In-Situ (UG) 1,070 Mt Copper 1.67 %
Total Resource In-Situ (OP) 10,100 Mt Gold 0.28 g/t
Total Resource In-Situ (UG) 1,070 Mt Gold 0.64 g/t
Total Resource In-Situ (OP) 10,100 Mt Silver 1 g/t
Total Resource In-Situ (UG) 1,070 Mt Silver 3 g/t
Total Resource In-Situ (OP) 10,100 Mt Uranium (U3O8) 210 g/t
Total Resource In-Situ (UG) 1,070 Mt Uranium (U3O8) 490 g/t

Commodity Production Costs:

CommodityUnits2016
Cash costs Copper USD 1.38 / lb

Financials:

Units2021202020192018201720162015
Capital expenditures M USD  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required669   267   197   307  
Revenue M USD  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required1,255   1,287   1,432   1,244  
EBIT M USD  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required39   224   148   27  
EBITDA M USD  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required  ......  Subscription required267   284   385   280  
Subscription required - Subscription is required


Heavy Mobile Equipment:

Mine Management:

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Dec 13, 2021
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Dec 13, 2021
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Dec 13, 2021
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Dec 13, 2021
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Dec 13, 2021
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Dec 13, 2021
Subscription required - Subscription is required.


Corporate Filings & Presentations:

DocumentYear
................................... Subscription required 2021
................................... Subscription required 2021
................................... Subscription required 2020
................................... Subscription required 2020
................................... Subscription required 2020
................................... Subscription required 2019
................................... Subscription required 2019
................................... Subscription required 2019
Annual Report 2018
Annual Report 2017
Press Release 2017
Annual Report 2016
Press Release 2016
Annual Report 2015
Corporate Presentation 2015
Subscription required - Subscription is required.

News:

NewsDate
Olympic Dam contract for Foraco May 31, 2022
BHP going green at Olympic Dam October 14, 2021
BHP backs local business at Olympic Dam September 1, 2021
Monadelphous banks BHP, Rio Tinto contracts June 24, 2021
BHP hands Olympic Dam contract to Boom May 6, 2021
BHP hires CRC ORE for Olympic Dam bulk ore sorting November 2, 2020
BHP sets foundation for Olympic Dam expansion October 20, 2020
Monadelphous wins BHP contracts across Australia September 14, 2020
Swick wins BHP, St Barbara contracts August 17, 2020
BHP a step closer to boosting Olympic Dam copper output May 25, 2020
BHP seeks 75% copper growth project at Olympic Dam February 15, 2019

Aerial view:

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