(Reuters) - BHP Group <BHP.AX> has identified a potential new iron oxide, copper and gold mineralized system near its Olympic Dam operations in South Australia as part of a copper exploration programme , the miner said on Tuesday.
It said in a statement that the project was still in its infancy and that it was planning a further drilling programme , slated to commence in early 2019.
The project is in a copper-rich region between the company's Olympic Dam mine and Oz Minerals' <OZL.AX> Carrapateena project. Copper is a major point of focus for BHP.
BHP's announcement coincides with investor excitement over a potential copper find by its arch rival Rio Tinto in Western Australia. Rio Tinto has not commented on reports of the WA find.
(Reporting by Ambar Warrick in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)
