Overview
| Stage | Production |
| Mine Type | Underground |
| Commodities |
|
| Mining Method |
|
| Processing |
- Hydrometallurgical Plant
- Flotation
- Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
|
| Mine Life | 50 years (as of Jan 1, 2017) |
BHP has committed to a series of expansion projects at Olympic Dam in recent years, including a $350 million investment to upgrade the surface operations. The project, the largest planned shutdown undertaken at the asset, ran for over 100 days from August 2017. BHP also used the opportunity to carry out major upgrade works on Olympic Dam’s refinery, concentrator, other key infrastructure and site technology. |
| Latest News | BHP seeks 75% copper growth project at Olympic Dam February 15, 2019 |
| Company | Interest | Ownership |
|
BHP Group Ltd.
|
100 %
|
Indirect
|
|
BHP Billiton Olympic Dam Corporation Pty Ltd.
|
100 %
|
Direct
|
Summary:
Underground Large poly-metallic deposit of iron oxide-copper-uranium-gold mineralisation.
Summary:
Olympic Dam’s underground mine is made up of more than 450 kilometres of underground roads and tunnels, with a mine depth of 860 metres. The operation extracts copper uranium ore, with the ore hauled by automated train to feed underground crushing, storage and ore hoisting facilities.
Sub-level open stoping underground mine allows selective access to specific grades.
Processing Technologies
- Hydrometallurgical Plant
- Flotation
- Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
Summary:
Olympic Dam’s processing plant consists of two grinding circuits in which high-quality copper concentrate is extracted from sulphide ore through a flotation extraction process. The operation includes 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 and a recovery circuit for precious metals.
Reserves at June 30, 2018:
| Category | OreType | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade |
|
Proven
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
154 Mt
|
Copper
|
2.06 %
|
|
Proven
|
Low-grade sulphide
|
8.4 Mt
|
Copper
|
1.2 %
|
|
Proven
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
154 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.68 g/t
|
|
Proven
|
Low-grade sulphide
|
8.4 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.5 g/t
|
|
Proven
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
154 Mt
|
Silver
|
5 g/t
|
|
Proven
|
Low-grade sulphide
|
8.4 Mt
|
Silver
|
4 g/t
|
|
Proven
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
154 Mt
|
Uranium (U3O8)
|
630 g/t
|
|
Proven
|
Low-grade sulphide
|
8.4 Mt
|
Uranium (U3O8)
|
390 g/t
|
|
Probable
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
346 Mt
|
Copper
|
1.95 %
|
|
Probable
|
Low-grade sulphide
|
8.4 Mt
|
Copper
|
1.2 %
|
|
Probable
|
Low-grade sulphide
|
8.4 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.5 g/t
|
|
Probable
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
346 Mt
|
Silver
|
4 g/t
|
|
Probable
|
Low-grade sulphide
|
8.4 Mt
|
Silver
|
4 g/t
|
|
Probable
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
346 Mt
|
Uranium (U3O8)
|
560 g/t
|
|
Probable
|
Low-grade sulphide
|
8.4 Mt
|
Uranium (U3O8)
|
390 g/t
|
|
Measured
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
2,960 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.66 %
|
|
Measured
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
555 Mt
|
Copper
|
1.71 %
|
|
Measured
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
2,960 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.32 g/t
|
|
Measured
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
555 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.64 g/t
|
|
Measured
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
2,960 Mt
|
Silver
|
1 g/t
|
|
Measured
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
555 Mt
|
Silver
|
4 g/t
|
|
Measured
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
2,960 Mt
|
Uranium (U3O8)
|
210 g/t
|
|
Measured
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
555 Mt
|
Uranium (U3O8)
|
500 g/t
|
|
Indicated
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
3,030 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.6 %
|
|
Indicated
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
262 Mt
|
Copper
|
1.67 %
|
|
Indicated
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
3,030 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.26 g/t
|
|
Indicated
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
262 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.65 g/t
|
|
Indicated
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
3,030 Mt
|
Silver
|
1 g/t
|
|
Indicated
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
262 Mt
|
Silver
|
3 g/t
|
|
Indicated
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
3,030 Mt
|
Uranium (U3O8)
|
200 g/t
|
|
Indicated
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
262 Mt
|
Uranium (U3O8)
|
490 g/t
|
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