BHP Supports the Next Generation of Exploration and Technology Talent in Its Largest Xplor Intake to Date
By GlobeNewswire
February 2, 2026 | MELBOURNE, Australia
BHP has announced its largest cohort yet for the 2026 BHP Xplor program, selecting ten early-stage exploration and technology companies. Now in its fourth year, the program brings together a diverse group of junior exploration firms, geoscience organizations, and technology developers aimed at revolutionizing mineral discovery.
A Collaborative Approach to Early-Stage Exploration
The 2026 Xplor intake reflects an evolving exploration landscape where geology, data science, and new technologies are increasingly intertwined. This interdisciplinary cooperation fosters innovation in how mineral systems are understood, tested, and advanced, especially as exploration moves into more remote and geologically complex territories.
“Exploration is evolving quickly. New tools, better data, and different ways of working are changing how early-stage ideas are tested and refined,” said Tim O’Connor, BHP Group Exploration Officer. “This cohort reflects that shift, bringing together explorers and technology developers who are approaching discovery in thoughtful and practical ways. Xplor gives us a valuable opportunity to learn alongside them and explore what discovery could look like in the future.”
The 2026 Xplor Cohort: Exploring New Frontiers
The selected companies span several continents and bring expertise across a range of mineral systems:
Exploration Companies:
-
FrontierX (Canada)
Formed by two alumni of the inaugural Xplor year, FrontierX focuses on early-stage uranium exploration in Canada, advancing preliminary projects that test geological concepts. -
Litchfield Minerals (Australia)
Working in Australia’s Northern Territory, Litchfield Minerals is exploring copper, zinc, lead, silver, and gold at its Oonagalabi project using modern geophysics and targeted fieldwork. -
Orion Minerals (South Africa)
This publicly listed company applies data analytics and mineral systems thinking to identify new discovery opportunities beyond known copper and zinc deposits in South Africa’s Northern Cape. -
Otrera Resources (South America)
Specialized in sediment-hosted copper systems, Otrera Resources combines regional expertise with modern geochemical techniques to advance new copper targets. -
PT GeoFix (Indonesia)
A multidisciplinary geoscience consultancy, PT GeoFix uses proprietary prospectivity tools and regional knowledge to test underexplored copper-gold targets in the Sunda-Banda Arc. -
Utah Geological Survey (USA)
As the primary geoscience organization for Utah, UGS leads efforts to integrate new datasets and fieldwork to improve understanding of mineral potential in the eastern Great Basin, providing publicly available geological data.
Technology Companies:
-
RadiXplore (Australia)
Using artificial intelligence, RadiXplore analyzes historical exploration records alongside contemporary geological and corporate data to identify overlooked copper exploration opportunities. -
Mineural (Canada)
Combining AI and machine learning with BHP’s geological expertise, Mineural’s platform IRIS helps prioritize mineral targets more efficiently, focusing on responsible copper exploration. -
VectOres Science (USA)
This company develops non-invasive hydrogeochemical and isotopic tools, applying real-time water and isotope chemistry analysis to support early-stage mineral system identification without initial drilling. -
Discovery Genomics (Canada)
Pioneering the use of DNA sequencing for mineral exploration, Discovery Genomics is testing whether microbial DNA signatures can reveal buried copper mineral systems in complex terrains.
Looking Ahead
The 2026 BHP Xplor program exemplifies how collaboration between explorers and technology innovators can drive the industry forward. By harnessing cutting-edge technologies such as AI, genomics, and advanced geochemistry, BHP aims to accelerate the discovery process and nurture the next generation of exploration talent.
For more information about the Xplor program and participating companies, visit www.bhp.com/xplor.
The Manila Times will continue to provide updates on advancements in exploration and technology emerging from this exciting program.
