Form 6-K

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Form 6-K

 

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER

PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16

UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

November 27, 2018

 

 

 

BHP BILLITON LIMITED

(ABN 49 004 028 077)

 

BHP BILLITON PLC

(REG. NO. 3196209)

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)   (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

VICTORIA, AUSTRALIA   ENGLAND AND WALES
(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organisation)   (Jurisdiction of incorporation or organisation)

171 COLLINS STREET, MELBOURNE,

VICTORIA 3000 AUSTRALIA

 

NOVA SOUTH, 160 VICTORIA STREET

LONDON, SW1E 5LB

UNITED KINGDOM

(Address of principal executive offices)   (Address of principal executive offices)

 

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or

Form 40-F:    ☒  Form 20-F    ☐  Form 40-F

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):  ☐

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):  ☐

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:    ☐  Yes    ☒  No

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): n/a 

 

 

 


NEWS RELEASE    LOGO

 

Release Time    IMMEDIATE
Date    27 November 2018
Release Number    27/18

BHP 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 contains further information in relation to this exploration project.


Further information on BHP can be found at: bhp.com

 

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Email: media.relations@bhpbilliton.com

 

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Investor Relations

 

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Australia and Asia

 

Tara Dines

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United Kingdom and South Africa

 

Elisa Morniroli

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Americas

 

James Wear

Tel: +1 713 993 3737 Mobile: +1 347 882 3011

 

BHP Group Limited ABN 49 004 028 077

LEI WZE1WSENV6JSZFK0JC28

Registered in Australia

Registered Office: Level 18, 171 Collins Street

Melbourne Victoria 3000 Australia

Tel +61 1300 55 4757 Fax +61 3 9609 3015

 

BHP Group Plc Registration number 3196209

LEI 549300C116EOWV835768

Registered in England and Wales

Registered Office: Nova South, 160 Victoria Street

London SW1E 5LB United Kingdom

Tel +44 20 7802 4000 Fax +44 20 7802 4111

Members of the BHP Group which is

headquartered in Australia

 

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Appendix 1

Project Summary

The project is located within the Exploration Licence 5941, 65km south-east from BHP’s Olympic Dam and 45km north-east from Carrapateena, in South Australia (Figure 1). The project has a long exploration history with initial exploratory drilling completed by Western Mining Corporation in 1976 and several subsequent drilling campaigns since. Historic drilling has, however, been focused on the easternmost geophysical anomaly in the project area shown in Figure 1, with only three drill holes drilled to test the larger western anomaly between 1983 and 1985 (AD4, 7 and 13, shown in Figure 2).

Recent target definition completed in 2018 included re-interpretation of historic drill hole geology, geochemistry and geophysics of the prospect and collection of new high resolution gravity. The re-assessment was followed by four drill holes to further test the geophysical anomaly (Figure 2).

Geology and Mineralisation

The project has a similar regional setting as the Olympic Dam deposit and is located in the eastern margin of the Gawler Craton, within the Olympic IOCG (iron oxide, copper, gold) metallogenic province.

The project is overlain by between 700m and 950m of post mineral, consolidated, sedimentary rocks of meso- Proterozoic age and younger. Pre-mineral basement in AD4 comprises iron rich hematite breccias and sedimentary rocks and is barren of mineralisation (max Cu 0.03%). AD7 to the east intersected iron rich conglomerates and breccias at the expected base of post mineral cover in fault contact with moderately brecciated and sericite altered granite and is also barren of mineralisation (max Cu 0.01%). AD13 to the north west ended at 852m in post mineral cover. Accurate down hole survey information for historic drilling is unavailable and drill holes are assumed to be vertical.

Recent drilling in 2018 has intersected IOCG-style alteration and mineralisation.The main Cu sulphide species are chalcocite, bornite and chalcopyrite. Copper sulphides occur primarily as disseminated accumulations and are associated with iron oxide rich breccias. AD22 and 24 to the south have intersected iron oxide and siderite altered, brecciated granites and chalcopyrite dominant mineralisation. AD23 and 25 in the north have intersected: pervasively altered iron oxide rich breccias and fine grained sedimentary clastic rocks, generally barren of copper mineralisation; massive hematite breccias with high grade chalcocite-bornite mineralisation; and both holes end in moderate to weakly hematite altered, brecciated granites dominated by chalcopyrite mineralisation in AD23 and pyrite mineralisation in AD25. Detailed, significant assays are provided in Table 2 and cross sections with simplified geology are shown in Figure 2.

Further Work

BHPs copper exploration team is currently evaluating and interpreting the results reported here and planning suitable follow up drilling.


LOGO

Figure 1 – Location map of project within EL 5941 over public domain gravity map.

 

LOGO

Figure 2 – Left: Drill hole with mineralising intersects projected to surface over high resolution gravity map and cross-sections location. Right: Cross-sections with simplified geology and Cu assays. Bottom left: Coordinates in Geocentric Datum of Australia (GDA 94, zone 53).


Hole ID

   From      To      Length
m
     Cu
%
     Au
g/t
     U
ppm
     Ag
g/t
     SG  

AD22

     936        1060.5        124.5        0.52        0.48        85        3.37        3.04  

breakdown

     936        955        19        0.38        0.23        110        3.40        2.92  
     955        966        11        0.05        0.27        58        1.21        2.98  
     966        995.4        29.4        0.66        0.52        89        2.95        3.04  
     inc 991        995.4        4.4        1.42        1.00        90        3.18        3.37  
     995.4        1009        13.6        0.17        0.22        63        1.30        2.86  
     1009        1060.5        51.5        0.67        0.64        86        4.51        3.17  
     inc 1050.6        1060.5        9.9        1.58        0.79        118        8.38        3.72  

AD23

     1063        1488.7        425.7        3.04        0.59        346        6.03        3.94  

breakdown

     1063        1070        7        1.20        0.58        1578        3.02        4.25  
     1070        1250        180        6.07        0.92        401        12.77        4.08  
     inc 1125        1228        103        7.37        1.03        458        15.57        4.25  
     1250        1488        238        0.67        0.33        262        0.73        3.83  
     inc 1250        1301        51        1.08        0.37        370        0.35        3.70  
     inc 1301        1323        22        0.20        0.90        103        0.34        3.57  
     inc 1323        1342        19        1.74        0.97        542        1.77        3.89  
     inc 1342        1488.7        146.7        0.46        0.15        213        0.77        3.91  

AD24

     848        1254        406        0.66        0.35        266        2.09        3.33  

breakdown

     848        856        8        2.04        0.39        596        5.33        3.48  
     856        904        48        0.48        0.29        245        1.59        3.11  
     904        928        24        1.15        0.38        185        2.30        3.20  
     inc 911        923        12        1.48        0.43        201        3.45        3.27  
     928        945        17        0.31        0.26        122        0.91        3.03  
     945        1061        116        0.83        0.44        330        1.98        3.31  
     inc 945        969        24        1.00        0.83        244        4.11        3.20  
     inc 969        997        28        0.57        0.43        212        2.30        2.99  
     inc 997        1022        25        1.07        0.65        280        1.72        3.38  
     inc 1022        1061        39        0.75        0.12        479        0.76        3.57  
     1061        1254        193        0.47        0.30        234        2.21        3.47  

AD25

     1193        1270        77        2.11        0.54        327        2.94        3.39  

breakdown

     1193        1235        42        2.81        0.60        401        2.96        3.41  
     inc 1193        1213        20        3.54        0.62        242        3.00        3.48  
     inc 1213        1235        22        2.12        0.58        551        2.93        3.35  
     1235        1255        20        0.82        0.25        111        1.29        3.42  
     1255        1270        15        1.82        0.77        408        5.10        3.35  

Table 1 – Length and density weighted mineralised intercepts for 2018 drilling reported as apparent (down hole) widths. The complete break down of each reported intersection is shown and includes high and low grade intervals to demonstrate grade. Intervals with assays not reported here have no consistent samples >0.2% Cu.

Drilling Techniques

 

   

All drilling was diamond drilling from surface.

 

   

Holes were HWT collared down to 6m and started with PQ drilling, followed by HQ and NQ2 to the end of the hole (EOH).

 

   

Directional surveys using a north seeking gyroscope were completed on each hole inside the NQ2 rods.

Location of data points

 

   

Drill hole collar locations have been surveyed with handheld Garmin GPS64S and manually entered into acQuire database.

 

   

All coordinates provided are measured and provided in Geocentric Datum of Australia 1994 (GDA94 Zone 53).

 

   

AD22, 23, 24, 25 have been surveyed with a North seeking gyro and collar azimuths are provided from these surveys in GDA94.

 

   

The accuracy of data provided for historic datapoint locations (AD 4, 7, 13) cannot be confirmed.


Geological Logging

 

   

100% of drill holes were logged in qualitative detail for the basement rocks.

 

   

The following observations were recorded: lithology composition and texture, alteration minerals and sulphide distribution.

 

   

Structural measurements have been recorded.

 

   

Core was photographed both wet and dry.

Sampling Techniques

 

   

Sample recoveries are visually estimated to be >97%.

 

   

Sample recovery is not considered material to reported grades.

 

   

Diamond core was split by core saw with half the core submitted for assay and the other half stored in trays at Olympic Dam. Samples are submitted as 1m or 2m intervals.

 

   

Specific gravity measurements were taken for all assayed samples.

 

   

6-8kg samples were submitted to an analytical laboratory for final drying, staged crushing to 2mm, splitting to approximately 3 kg portion, followed by pulverisation to 90% passing 75 micron particle size pulp.

 

   

Duplicate samples were collected at each preparation stage where a reduction in sample mass occurred.

Quality of assay data and laboratory tests

 

   

All samples were submitted to Intertek/Genalysis Laboratory in Adelaide.

 

   

63 elements were analysed using 4-acid digest, total fusion, fire assay and induction furnace digestions followed by ICP-OES/MS or infrared methods.

 

   

Four acid digestion followed by ICP-OES/MS was used to measure Cu, Ag, As, Bi, Cd, Co, Ge, In, Li, Re, Se, Te, Tl, Zn, Ni, Pb.

 

   

Lithium borate fusion followed by ICP-OES/MS was to measure Al, Ca, Cr, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Sc, Si, Ti, V, Ba, Be, REE, Cs, Ga, Hf, Mo, Nb, Rb, Sb, Sn, Sr, Ta, Th, U, W, Y, Zr.

 

   

25g fire assay with an ICP-OES finish was used to measure Au.

 

   

Induction furnace combustion followed by infrared analyser was used to measure C and S.

 

   

Quality control samples consisted of duplicates (1:25), analytical blanks (1:50) and certified standards (1:25). QC results reviewed when results are received, all performed within acceptable accuracy and precision limits.

Verification of sampling and assaying

 

   

Significant intersections were validated via visual inspection of drill core, followed up by optical microscopy by BHP personnel not involved with the initial geological logging of the drill core. There has been no adjustments to the assay data that is electronically uploaded to the database from the commercial laboratory.

 

   

All drill hole data is managed internally using computerised geological logging, a comprehensive SQL server relational database, and strict validation rules.

 

   

The database has a security model which requires user access to have supervisor approval. The database is backed up regularly by standard backup procedures.

 

   

No twinned holes have been drilled.

Sample security

 

   

A reconciliation is completed between the sampling request and drilling plods to ensure that any lost core is accurately recorded prior to sampling. Sample numbers are automatically generated directly from the database once the sampling request is visually validated against the drill core. Laboratory sample receipt is recorded in the database. The laboratory reconciles samples received against samples requested on the assay request sheet.

Audits or reviews

 

   

The drill hole database is periodically and independently audited. No material issues or risks have been identified.

Orientation of data in relation to geological structure

 

   

Mineralization at this stage is not well defined as per the irregular nature in IOCG-type deposits and lack of data.

 

   

Holes have been angled to different directions to the south-west, north-west, and north-east to avoid biased samples by structure trends.

Data aggregation methods

 

   

All intersections are length and density weighted represented in apparent (downhole) widths, true widths of intersections are unknown.

Data spacing and distribution

 

   

There is insufficient drilling to provide any mineral inventory estimate (including Exploration Target).

Mineral tenement and land tenure status

 

   

The project is located within the Exploration Licence 5941 (EL 5941), 100% owned by BHP.

 

   

All BHP exploration tenure is in ‘good standing’ with recent historic minimum expenditure met or exceeded.

 

   

Business as usual 2 year renewal of EL5941 is required in February 2019.


Exploration done by other parties

 

   

The project has a long exploration history, dating back to 1976 by Western Mining Corporation and BHP.

 

   

All drilling information prior to 2018 has not been through the same quality control and processes described in this release and uncertainties exist in respect to the survey (dip, azimuth).

 

   

Historic drillholes are currently being re-sampled using the same methodologies and processes as the 2018 drill holes described in this release

‘The information in the report to which this statement is attached that relates to Exploration Results is based on information compiled by Dr Kathy Ehrig, a Competent Person who is a Member of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Dr Ehrig is a full-time employee of BHP. Dr Ehrig has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the ‘Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves’. Dr Ehrig consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on her information in the form and context in which it appears.’


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

      BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc
Date: November 27, 2018     By:  

/s/ Rachel Agnew

    Name:   Rachel Agnew
    Title:   Company Secretary