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Exploration

Our pipeline of development options and early-stage exploration projects is central to our strategy to reshape and improve our portfolio to create long-term value.

We are actively increasing our exposure to the metals critical to the global energy transition. In addition, we are building our pipeline of opportunities by investing through the drill bit and we currently have more than 20 active exploration programs around the world.

We are always on the lookout for new opportunities, with a bias to base metals, to partner and invest with junior explorers and miners globally.

Our current exploration portfolio includes:

  • Ambler Metals Joint Venture – A 50:50 JV between South32 and Trilogy Metals to actively explore Upper Kobuk Mineral Province in Alaska, USA and to progress the two most advanced exploration projects; the Arctic copper-zinc-lead-gold-silver project and the Bornite copper project;
  • A farm-in agreement with Encounter Resources targeting copper at the Jessica project in the Northern Territory, Australia;
  • A strategic alliance with AusQuest to develop a pipeline of high-potential base metal exploration opportunities in Australia;
  • An earn-in agreement with Hammer Metals for the Isa Valley project, targeting copper and zinc in Queensland, Australia;
  • An option agreement with Bronco Creek Exploration for a copper project in Arizona, USA;
  • An earn-in agreement with Ridgeline Minerals to explore the Selena copper, zinc, lead, and silver project in Nevada, USA;
  • A South32-operated joint venture with Minsud Resources to explore the Chita Valley project for copper, zinc, molybdenum, silver and gold project in San Juan Province, Argentina;
  • A farm-in agreement with Bowyang Resources and Barrier Resources targeting base metals at the Thackaringa & Broken Hill projects in New South Wales, Australia;
  • An option agreement with Noronex Limited for the Humpback-Damara Copper Project in Namibia, along with a strategic alliance to target base metal projects in the country, as well as two exploration licenses in Botswana.
  • An earn-in agreement with MRG Resources for the William Rogers project, targeting copper and zinc in Queensland, Australia; and
  • Advancing a diverse portfolio of wholly owned (100% South32) base metal projects in Australia and the Americas.