BHP Billiton says Brazil dam burst mud tailings chemically stable

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – BHP Billiton said on Thursday that tailings in mud from a dam that burst at an iron ore mine in Brazil and polluted a major river were chemically stable and would not change their composition in water.

The comments from BHP, which co-owns the mine’s operator Samarco, came after the United Nations said mud from the dam burst was toxic.

(Reporting by Sonali Paul; Editing by Shri Navaratnam)

• BHP Billiton