South Pacific Metals has uncovered high-grade gold, silver, and copper deposits at its Ontenu NE prospect within its Osena project in Eastern Highlands.
The company has revealed rock chip assay results that show grades of up to 9.34 grams per tonne (g/t) gold. It said this was consistent with the exploration results in surrounding areas, with the project situated within a major mineralisation corridor known as the Kainantu Transfer Zone.
This zone also hosts the Kainantu gold-copper mine, operated by K92 Mining.
A 1m-2m wide mineralised structure with sulphides and copper oxides was found in a newly-discovered outcrop, with South Pacific Metals collecting six rock chip samples along the exposed strike of the structure.
One creek float rock sample showed 9.34 g/t gold and 272 g/t silver.
Another sample from a 10m – 30cm wide vein in a sheared conglomerate outcrop recorded 7.69 g/t gold. This was further affirmed by some minor visible gold being noted at the base of the outcrop.
South Pacific chief executive officer Timo Juaristo said the company’s exploration plans had only recently pivoted toward the Ontenu NE prospect.
“Within a short time, we have found several new mineralised structures which we suspect could represent the upper levels of epithermal gold-copper veins,” he said.
“To encounter high gold, copper and silver in some of these structures is encouraging [and] these results, with continuing mapping and sampling, will guide our drill planning.”
The company hopes to start drilling within the next month, with the first drill holes to be in the Ontenu NE area.
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