The world's biggest mining group, BHP Billiton, has suspended operations at its Olympic Dam uranium mine, in Southern Australia, after a fatal accident at the mine's smelter, the firm said on Wednesday.

A falling object struck the employee during maintenance work at the smelter, and he died soon afterwards.

Authorities had been informed and investigations into the incident had begun, the company said in a statement on its website.

It did not say when it expected to resume operations.

“The immediate priority for Olympic Dam is to assist the family of the employee killed and the rest of our workforce and contractors,” the firm said.

Olympic Dam, which produced 933 t of uranium oxide in concentrate during the September 2007 quarter, is the world's largest-known uranium deposit.

The mine also produces copper cathodes, gold and silver bullion

Olympic Dam has long term contracts for the sale of uranium oxide concentrates to customers in the United Kingdom, France, Sweden, Finland, Belgium, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Canada and the United States. Gold and silver are sold to the Perth Mint, Australia.

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