Mount Hope Mining Strikes High-Grade Gold at Mt Solitary: What’s Next?

Maiden Drilling Success at Mt Solitary

Mount Hope Mining Limited (ASX, MHM) has delivered a promising start to its exploration campaign at the Mt Solitary prospect in New South Wales. The company’s maiden reverse circulation (RC) drilling program has confirmed the presence of shallow, high-grade gold mineralisation, highlighted by a standout intercept of 19 metres at 4.5 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, including an exceptional 1 metre at 50 g/t. These results not only validate historical non-JORC resource estimates but also reveal a previously unrecognised structural trend that remains open at depth.

Building a Geological Framework

The drilling campaign, consisting of 10 holes totaling 1,236 metres, was designed to test and refine a structural geological model for the prospect. The model suggests that gold mineralisation is controlled by a regional north–south shear zone with subsidiary structures linking major faults. This interpretation is supported by both historic and recent drilling data, as well as surface geological mapping. The confirmation of this structural control is a critical step forward, enabling more targeted and efficient follow-up drilling.

Expanding the Resource with Stage 2 Drilling

Encouraged by the initial results, Mount Hope Mining has already secured permits for a second phase of drilling, planning up to 2,000 metres of combined RC and diamond drilling. This program will focus on infilling and extending mineralisation along strike to the north and down plunge, aiming to expand the known mineralised envelope. With up to 24 holes permitted and drilling expected to commence before year-end, the company is poised to rapidly advance towards defining a maiden JORC-compliant resource.

Regional Implications and Strategic Positioning

Mt Solitary sits within a 7.5-kilometre-long corridor of gold mineralisation that extends southward toward the Mt Solar Project. The structural model developed here could be applied across other prospects along this trend, including Little Mt Solitary and Powerline Hill, potentially unlocking further high-grade targets. With gold prices at record highs, Mount Hope Mining’s strategic positioning and methodical approach to exploration could attract significant market attention as it progresses.

Looking Ahead

While the maiden drilling results are encouraging, the true scale and continuity of the mineralisation remain to be fully defined. The company’s next steps will be critical in confirming the extent of the resource and its economic viability. Investors and analysts will be watching closely as Mount Hope Mining embarks on its next drilling phase, which could reshape the gold exploration landscape in this historically underexplored region.