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) |
| 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
|