Edgar Filing: BHP BILLITON LTD

BHP Billiton Limited and BHP Billiton Plc

Date: November 27, 2018

/s/ Rachel Agnew

Rachel Agnew

Company Secretary

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)


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


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

Media Relations

Email: media.relations@bhpbilliton.com

Australia and Asia

Gabrielle Notley

Tel: +61 3 9609 3830 Mobile: +61 411 071 715

United Kingdom and South Africa

Neil Burrows

Tel: +44 20 7802 7484 Mobile: +44 7786 661 683

North America

Judy Dane

Tel: +1 713 961 8283 Mobile: +1 713 299 5342

Investor Relations

Email: investor.relations@bhpbilliton.com

Australia and Asia

Tara Dines

Tel: +61 3 9609 2222 Mobile: + 61 499 249 005

United Kingdom and South Africa

Elisa Morniroli

Tel: +44 20 7802 7611 Mobile: +44 7825 926 646

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

LOGO

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.