BHP and Curtin University are collaborating on a project to conserve and enhance biodiversity at the Olympic Dam operation in South Australia through emerging research techniques used to test and monitor animal species.
The project, titled BHP–Curtin Alliance eDNA for Global Environment Studies – Subterranean Fauna Detection and Conservation, uses environmental DNA (eDNA) to create a biomonitoring tool that provides additional information on biodiversity, with the potential to be used by both industry and government.
The project’s scope included developing high-resolution eDNA tools for monitoring genetic diversity and changes in the groups of organisms located within the Great Artesian Basin’s subterranean ecosystems.
eDNA is the biological material deposited by organisms into their habitat (terrestrial or aquatic) and can be isolated from a variety of substrates such as soil, water and air through non-invasive sampling techniques as opposed to traditional monitoring methods that are often time-consuming and require niche specialist expertise.
BHP worked with academics from Curtin University and the University of Adelaide to co-design the project ensuring world-class research was aligned with industry needs.
The project is being led by representatives from Curtin University and BHP’s Olympic Dam environment team, along with representatives from the Traditional Owner group, the Arabana, who completed the field sampling to collect spring water, bore water and spring invertebrates.
BHP’s Olympic Dam is one of the world’s most significant deposits of copper, gold, and uranium.
Located in central South Australia and within the Great Artesian Basin, the mine supports an estimated 7000 individual springs in 450 spring groups, extending across Queensland, Northern Territory, NSW and South Australia. These natural flowing springs are a water source for a variety of threatened, endemic, and relict species.
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