BHP Selects Record 10 Companies for $5M Xplor Mineral Exploration Program

Published: Feb 3, 2026 09:29

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BHP has selected its largest-ever group for the annual Xplor program, which supports early-stage mineral exploration.On Monday, the Australian miner announced that the 2026 cohort will include 10 companies—a record number—with total seed funding of US$5 million. The group consists of six early-stage exploration companies and four technology firms, highlighting the growing role of data analytics in mineral discovery.BHP stated that the selection reflects a more integrated approach to early-stage exploration, where geological insight, data, and emerging technologies increasingly come together, and cross-disciplinary collaboration is becoming central to the evolution of discovery.

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