Former BHP copper boss Darryl Cuzzubbo says the mining giant is thinking in decades when it makes big moves such as its $60 billion takeover tilt at Anglo American.

Mr Cuzzubbo, who ran the Olympic Dam copper, gold and uranium mine for part of a 24-year career with BHP, is now chief executive of Arafura Rare Earths, and sees parallels between copper and rare earths.