South Pacific Metals Corp. (SPMC) has launched its maiden drilling program at the Ontenu Northeast prospect in Papua New Guinea, marking a significant step forward in the company’s exploration activities within the mineral-rich Kainantu region.
Located within the Osena project area, Ontenu Northeast lies along the Kainantu Transfer Zone, a northeast-southwest corridor that also hosts the Kainantu Gold-Copper Mine, currently operated by K92 Mining Ltd. This area is known for its promising gold-copper deposits and remains a focal point for ongoing mineral exploration in the country.
The company said the drilling will test whether the northwest-trending mineralised structures identified earlier this year are surface indicators of deeper epithermal gold-copper (Au-Cu) veins, similar to those currently mined at K92’s Kora and Judd deposits.
Surface sampling has already returned encouraging results, with assays of up to 3.95 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, 645 g/t silver, and 1.56 percent copper across a six-metre-wide outcrop. Five other mineralised structures in the area, with rock chip samples recording as high as 13.9 g/t gold and 388 g/t silver, will also be part of the program’s targets.
SPMC plans to complete four to six drill holes, totalling around 1,500 metres, before the end of the 2025 field season.
Chief Executive Officer Timo Jauristo described the launch as an important step in the company’s growth.
“The drill program marks a major milestone for South Pacific. Ontenu Northeast has not been drilled before,” Jauristo said. “The whole team is excited to start drilling these holes, aimed at testing the deeper parts of these mineralised structures for high-grade epithermal Au-Cu veins. The first drill hole is planned to intersect several of these structures at depths between 100m to 250m. The remainder of the program will further test this structure as well as some of the other mineralised structures.”
The drilling results from Ontenu Northeast are expected to provide vital geological insights into the potential of the Osena project and could set the stage for a new phase of gold and copper exploration in Papua New Guinea.
SPMC, which is listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V: SPMC), OTCQB (SPMEF), and Frankfurt Stock Exchange (6J00), continues to strengthen its exploration portfolio across the Pacific region as part of its broader strategy to identify and develop high-potential mineral assets.
