The historic mining region of Mount Hope, south of Cobar is the latest area in the neighbourhood to face renewed prospects, fuelled by high mineral prices and more savvy surveying tools.

At its peak the copper mine at Mount Hope (pictured below) was serviced by a bustling community of workers, its own rail line and four hotels. It was lucrative in its copper production and helped establish the Cobar Basin’s prolific mineral beginnings.

These days, the name is more ironic, with a population of nine, it is largely identified as the final stop on the Kidman Way as travellers move between Hillston and Cobar.

But all that could change after the successful ASX listing by junior explorer, Mount Hope Mining Limited (MHM).

MHM were the last company to list on the ASX this calendar year, and in what financiers would describe as ‘challenging’ conditions to raise, managed to attract $5 million in investment and found themselves oversubscribed.

Company Managing Director, Fergus Kiley is excited about their prospects. “There is definitely renewed focus on mining in the Cobar region. For years, it’s been somewhat of a forgotten area in mining, but that’s not the case now.”

MHM has purchased four mining tenements in and around the historic Mount Hope copper mine.  The metal prices currently on offer for gold and copper have been encouraging enough to begin plans for detailed exploration, utilising more advanced geophysical tools.

“The region has a lot going for it. It has a prolific history in copper and is a ‘mine friendly’ area, which makes it easy for us to access. There is also a lot of support in terms of accommodation for our staff at a camp set up by a neighbouring pastoralist, and our aggregation is right next to the Kidman Way, making it ideal to get surveying equipment in and out of,” Mr Kiley said.

“We had our land access agreements in place prior to listing on the ASX. In WA, mining has become a lot more challenging, so to be in this position now is a great advantage.”

MHM will now unfurl a two-year exploration campaign across an area of 175 square kilometres, taking in five historic mines.

“We have quality targets in mind,” Mr Kiley said, listing extensions of Mount Hope, Mount Solitary, Mount Solar, Comet and Great Central.

The Comet mine, above, forms part of the tenement that will be explored over the next two years. (Image, supplied).

Those plans consolidate a year of renewed fortunes in the mining sector within the Cobar Basin.

As Polymetals moves ahead with planned production, bringing the historic Endeavor Mine out of care and maintenance mode, Helix Resources has actively begun exploration of the region east of Cobar for copper and gold.

“Cobar is one of the most resurgent mineral provinces in Australia right now,” Mr Kiley said. “There’s a saying that the best place to find your next deposit is in the shadow of a head frame. It’s our intention not just to explore the region and get more knowledge on what’s underground, but I want to advance to the point of putting a mine into production.”

A matter of time – Council GM

Peter Vlatko, general manager of the Cobar Shire Council welcomed MHM’s plans in the south Cobar Basin.

He said historically mining companies had ‘mined what they stumbled upon.”

“The whole region is full of minerals and it’s just a matter of these companies being lucky enough to find them,” Mr Vlatko said.

“I’m really excited and know the whole region has capacity, subject to investment and resources to find more and turn these prospects into a mine which will then make Cobar great.”