Mount Hope Mining Expands Landholding to 422km² Along Key Fault
Mount Hope Mining has significantly expanded its footprint in the prolific Cobar Basin, NSW, by securing a new exploration licence that more than doubles its landholding. This strategic move targets key mineralisation structures and sets the stage for intensified exploration.
- Exploration Licence EL 6902 increases landholding from 175km² to 422km²
- New licence secures ~247km² along the critical Scotts Craig Fault
- Historical geochemical data highlights multiple polymetallic anomalies
- Structural studies confirm fault’s significance in mineralisation control
- Company plans systematic exploration including geochemistry and drilling
Strategic Expansion in a Premier Mineral Province
Mount Hope Mining Limited (ASX, MHM) has taken a decisive step to strengthen its position in the southern Cobar Basin of New South Wales by securing Exploration Licence EL 6902. This newly granted licence more than doubles the company’s contiguous landholding, expanding it from 175 square kilometres to an impressive 422 square kilometres. The acquisition aligns with Mount Hope Mining’s broader strategy to consolidate a commanding exploration footprint in one of Australia’s most prolific mineral provinces.
Targeting the Scotts Craig Fault – A Key Mineralisation Corridor
The newly acquired licence area is strategically located adjacent to Mount Hope’s existing tenements and encompasses approximately 40 kilometres of strike length along the Scotts Craig Fault. This major regional fault is a basin-bounding structure that separates the Mount Hope and Rast Troughs and is considered a critical control on Cobar-style polymetallic mineralisation. Independent structural studies underscore the fault’s role as a long-lived corridor that has influenced mineralising fluid pathways, a feature consistent with many significant deposits in the region.
Data-Driven Exploration Prospects
Mount Hope Mining’s decision to pursue this licence was informed by an extensive review of historical surface geochemical data, comprising over 15,000 samples. This analysis revealed multiple polymetallic anomalies spatially coincident with the Scotts Craig Fault within the new tenure, providing a robust technical framework for upcoming exploration activities. The company is poised to advance a systematic program including soil geochemistry, ground geophysics, geological mapping, and drill targeting to unlock the area’s potential.
Management’s Outlook and Next Steps
Managing Director and CEO Fergus Kiley expressed optimism about the expanded landholding, highlighting the strategic importance of securing ground along key structural corridors. He emphasised that this is not greenfield territory but an area with demonstrated geochemical anomalies that complement the company’s broader exploration strategy. The company’s focus now turns to methodical exploration aimed at uncovering new mineralisation and delivering value to shareholders.
Positioning for Future Growth
This expansion significantly enhances Mount Hope Mining’s strategic position within the southern Cobar Basin, a region renowned for its base and precious metal deposits. By securing tenure over a major fault system with proven mineralisation controls, the company is well placed to leverage geological insights and historical data to accelerate discovery potential. Investors and industry watchers will be keen to monitor forthcoming exploration results as Mount Hope advances its ambitious growth agenda.
Bottom Line?
Mount Hope Mining’s expanded Cobar Basin footprint sets a promising stage for exploration breakthroughs and shareholder value creation.
Questions in the middle?
- What are the timelines and budgets for the upcoming exploration programs on EL 6902?
- How might the new landholding impact Mount Hope Mining’s resource estimates and valuation?
- What competitive moves are other explorers making in the southern Cobar Basin?
