This program is targeting tier 1 greenfield mineral deposits, with a particular focus on:

• Copper porphyry and skarn deposits in Chile, Peru and the southwest of the US
• Sedimentary hosted copper deposits in the north of Canada
• Iron Oxide Copper Gold (IOCG) deposits in South Australia’s Stuart Shelf, adjacent to Olympic Dam.

“We execute our Copper exploration both directly and through investment in joint venture opportunities and we continue to seek partnerships with junior explorers,” said BHP Billiton’s Head of Geoscience Laura Tyler.

The company’s regionally based exploration teams are supported by a globally integrated geoscience team to facilitate a faster adoption of best practice and new technology.

“Internal collaboration is very important and we are leveraging our Petroleum business geoscience to identify prospective sediment hosted copper deposit basins,” Ms Tyler said.

“Similarly, we are adopting technology from Petroleum and applying directional drilling techniques to copper exploration.”