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Tucked in Queensland’s Mt Isa region, the Mt Devine copper prospect has been earmarked for future exploration.
Exploration success in the Mt Isa region has historically been driven by visible mineralisation, with many discoveries identified through surface evidence such as oxidised copper workings.
Ziran director Don Hoult believes Mt Devine represents a different opportunity – one where modern exploration techniques are revealing potential that was overlooked because the mineralisation was not obvious at surface.
“Mt Devine is an overlooked discovery that fits into location and copper-gold grade – tonnage is the question,” Hoult told Australian Mining.
“However, based on a limited reverse circulation drilling program with follow-up electromagnetic and induced polarisation programs, it would appear the project is in the right ballpark.”
Located 45km north-east of Mt Isa, Mt Devine hosts primary sulphide copper mineralisation within rhyodacite, with drilling identifying shallow chalcopyrite intercepts ranging between 20m and more than 50m.
Less than 20 per cent of the known strike has been drilled, leaving significant scope to further understand the scale of the mineralised system.
Hoult said the project’s proximity to Mt Isa provides a key advantage, particularly given the capital requirements often associated with developing remote mining operations.
“As with any mining operation, its success is based on grade and tonnage,” he said.
“If it is in Mt Isa’s front yard, capital costs are negligible. Capital costs are the killer of any promising discovery.”
Mt Devine was first identified in the 1960s, when a prospector recognised the potential of oxidised ore before small-scale mining activity exposed the underlying sulphide system.
Historical records indicate that Mt Isa later treated several thousand tonnes of sulphide ore grading about 5 per cent copper.
The project also attracted attention from Texas Gulf Sulphur geologist Leo Miller, who visited Mt Devine after Tasman Minerals conducted drilling. Miller identified similarities between Mt Devine and Kidd Creek in Ontario, Canada, a major discovery he was involved with.
“Miller did not suggest Mt Devine was a Kidd Creek, but it had similar geological characteristics,” Hoult said.
“He thought Mt Devine was a pipe with repetitions along the 30–plus kilometres of the Argylla formation.”
Despite this early interest, Hoult said Mt Devine has not undergone the modern exploration programs typically used to assess concealed mineral systems.
“Mt Devine has never been the subject of serious exploration followed up with electromagnetic, induced polarisation and drilling because there was practically no surface evidence of mineralisation before Ziran’s involvement,” he said.
According to Hoult, the absence of visible mineralisation has historically limited attention, with explorers often prioritising areas where mineralisation can be easily identified at surface.
“Mt Devine has been walked over by any number of geologists, but when you cannot see any surface expression of mineralisation, they lose interest,” he said.
The difference, he said, is that Mt Devine represents a primary sulphide system with geological characteristics that warrant further investigation.
“The difference with Mt Devine is that it occurs as a primary copper sulphide in a volcanic rhyodacite erupting within metres of the surface, over substantial drilled widths and within trucking distance of Mt Isa,” Hoult said.
For Ziran, further exploration at Mt Devine could provide additional insight into mineral systems across the Mt Isa region, while potentially creating an opportunity for future development.
“The opportunity for Ziran is not only significant to it, but to the general knowledge of mineral occurrences in the Mt Isa region, as well as the economic benefits to Mt Isa if an ASX company becomes involved,” Hoult said.
With more than five decades of experience examining geological systems across Australia and internationally, Hoult said his role has been identifying the opportunity, while future development requires broader industry involvement.
“I can claim to have discovered Mt Devine, but I certainly can’t develop it,” he said.
For Ziran, the next phase will use exploration results to determine if the project’s geological potential can translate into a commercially viable resource.
“Small ASX companies promote and exist on results,” Hoult said.
“Results mirror potential, and they are the main criteria of success.”
This feature appeared in the November 2026 edition of Australian Mining.