Australian mining giant BHP Billiton has announced an upgrading of its iron ore and manganese resources and reserves at its Western Australia Iron Ore project, at Brazil-based Samarco Mineracao and at South Africa-based Samancor Manganese.
Accordingly, at its Western Australia Iron Ore project BHP Billiton has announced a 46 percent increase in its mineral resources to 11.7 billion wet metric tones and a 23 percent rise in its ore reserves to three billion wet mt year on year. BHP Billiton's attributable share of the mineral resources and ore reserves in question is 10.3 billion mt and 2.6 billion mt respectively.
In addition, at Samarco Mineracao BHP Billiton has reported an 11 percent increase in its mineral resources and a 30 percent rise in its ore reserves year on year to 3.3 billion dry mt and 624 million dry mt respectively. BHP Billiton's attributable share of these mineral resources is now approximately 1.7 billion mt, while its attributable share of the ore reserves is 312 million mt.
BHP Billiton has also reported an 82 percent increase year on year in mineral resources at Samancor Manganese to 473 million dry mt. The company is to incorporate the new manganese resources and estimate their impact on manganese reserves.