Global miner BHP Billiton Ltd., which said in May it is safekeeping for the meantime some $80 billion it had earlier allotted for investment on new mining projects, had just expanded its control on the Olympic Dam copper and uranium mine project after it bought for $3 million five exploration licences and one licence application from junior explorer Tasman Resources Ltd.

The six Stuart Shelf tenements, according to Tasman Resources Ltd. in a statement, are located within a very prospective part of the Stuart Shelf/Gawler Craton in South Australia.

The licenses that BHP Billiton Ltd. wants to secure involve 1,176 square kilometres west, north and northeast of the Olympic Dam copper and uranium mine project. However, it is still subject to due diligence by BHP as well as other conditions.

The tenements in question actually hold several targets and are very deep, but Tasman Resources Ltd. deemed it would be best to turn them over to a Tier 1 mining company which has far more exploration budgets.

The sellout from Tasman Resources Ltd. follows the April purchases of BHP Billiton Ltd. from Minotaur Exploration Ltd. and from Archer Exploration Ltd.

BHP Billiton Ltd. bought for A$10 million five exploration sites near Olympic Dam from Minotaur Exploration Ltd. and for A$8 million in cash five licenses for an area 90 kilometres southwest of Olympic Dam from Archer Exploration Ltd.

"We believe there are potential for additional iron oxide, copper, gold discoveries in the Stuart Shelf region of Australia," a BHP spokeswoman was quoted as saying by Adelaide Now.

"In the context of our long-term development plans and strategy for Olympic Dam this makes BHP Billiton well-placed to develop any future mines in the area."