Ontenu Central Exploration Update: South Pacific Metals Extends Ontenu Central Mineralization over 1km in Preparation for Drill Program
Ontenu Central Exploration Update: South
Pacific Metals Extends Ontenu Central
Mineralization over 1km in Preparation for
Drill Program
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - July 28, 2025) -
South Pacific Metals Corp.
(TSXV:
SPMC) (OTCQB: SPMEF) (FSE: 6J00) ("
SPMC
" or the "
Company
") is pleased to provide an update
on the Ontenu Central Prospect that forms part of its Osena Project located adjacent to K92 Mining
Ltd.'s gold-copper producing mine in the Kainantu District of Papua New Guinea. The Company is
conducting a trenching, reconnaissance and soil sampling program, ahead of imminent drill rig arrival.
Rig commissioning and drill pad construction are underway.
Highlights from Ontenu Central
Ontenu is located
in the Kainantu Transfer Zone,
which hosts the Kora-Judd vein system
currently being mined by K92 Mining.
The 2025 program is designed to expand the zone announced in 2024 which included:
4m @ 4.52 g/t gold ("Au") within 79m @ 0.75 g/t Au
in 2023/24 Trench 1
New 2025 trench results received include:
5m @ 2.53 g/t Au
within
87m @ 0.41 g/t Au
in ONT25TR-001
1m @ 5.05 g/t Au
within
50m @ 0.35 g/t Au
in ONT25TR-003
2m @ 2.62 g/t Au
within
30m @ 0.46 g/t Au
in ONT25TR-002, which when combined as an
extension of Trench 1 (2024), is
109m @ 0.67 g/t Au
New soil sample results are also expanding the Ontenu Central anomoly
The overall footprint of gold in soil anomalies (
30ppb to >100ppb Au
) now covers a 3 x 5
km area.
Analyses of multi-element work indicates mineralization with a similar geochemical signature
to K92 Mining's operations in two main corridors,
Westside & Central corridors,
each
>1000m long
, and present as structural controlled high-sulphidation epithermal Au-Cu
targets.
A further
532m of trenches have been excavated
and are awaiting completion of sampling and
mapping at both Westside and Central Corridors at Ontenu Central
Reconnaissance underway at Ontenu NE to map structures that previously returned
up
to 10.3%
& 3.1% Cu & 1.7 g/t Au
Drill rig has arrived in country
and is being commissioned, with drilling expected to commence
within weeks.
"The trenching program and ongoing mapping are providing crucial local geological information within
our large mineralized footprint at Ontenu Central," said
Timo Jauristo, CEO of South Pacific Metals
Corp
. "We will be targeting our first drilling in the Westside Corridor at Ontenu Central where
mineralization continuity over 1,000m and widths up to 80m has been demonstrated. We are now linking
together the various parts of the wider Ontenu area to demonstrate a large interconnected area of
mineralization (over 5km x 3km). Ongoing exploration will also focus on the Central Corridor at Ontenu
Central and Ontenu Northeast to define targets to be drilled after the Ontenu Central Westside drilling."
Ongoing Ontenu Central programs
Trenching
The Ontenu Central consists of two main north-south striking corridors each
>1000m
long with strong
associations of Au-Cu-Te-As-Bi for high-sulphidation epithermal mineralization. In 2024, the Company
announced trench results including
4m @ 4.52 g/t Au and 0.13% Cu
within a wider mineralized zone of
79m @ 0.75 g/t Au
(refer to news release dated
August 27, 2024
). The 2025 program has involved
excavating trenches parallel and on either side of the 2024 trench. All trenches have intersected
widespread mineralization
in veins and hydrothermal breccia zones hosted in N-S microdiorite dykes
and andesitic volcanics (Figure 1 & Figure 2).
Figure 1 - Trench Results from Westside Corridor, Ontenu Central
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10890/260238_bd32a637e471f842_001full.jpg
Figure 2 - Latest Trench Results from Westside Corridor at Ontenu Central
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10890/260238_bd32a637e471f842_002full.jpg
To date, results received and compiled are only gold fire assay results plus copper and silver, through
Intertek in Lae, Papua New Guinea (refer to Table 1 in Appendix). Multi-element assaying is currently
underway in Australia.
The trench program at the Westside corridor is continuing with extensions of ONT25TR-001 with a
further 291m of trenching excavated and currently being sampled and mapped. A fourth trench
(ONT25TR-004) has been excavated over 240m at the southern end of the Central Corridor and is being
sampled and assayed (Figure 3 & Figure 4).
The Central and Westside Corridor, along with geological information obtained by the trenching
indicates two strong wide structures anomalous in gold-copper and multi-element pathfinders extending
over at least 1,000m strike length (Figure 3).
Regional Soil sampling and reconnaissance
The Company has continued with regional reconnaissance including soil sampling, mapping and rock
sampling. Soil sampling at Ontenu North has extended previous historic work and connects a 30ppb
gold in soil anomaly (with several zones >100ppb Au) extending 3km north-south (Figure 4).
The Company has commenced reconnaissance mapping and sampling at the Ontenu Northeast
prospect, where previous results have identified structurally controlled Au-Cu-Te-As anomalies and rock
chips previously returned
up
to 10.3% Cu & 1.7g/t Au
(Figure 4 & refer to news release dated
May 29,
2025
).
Figure 3 - Geochemical compilation of Westside and Central Corridors at Ontenu Central
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10890/260238_bd32a637e471f842_003full.jpg
Figure 4 - Regional Anomalism of Rocks from Ontenu Central, Ontenu North, to Ontenu NE
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10890/260238_bd32a637e471f842_004full.jpg
Figure 5 - Regional Location Map
To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/10890/260238_bd32a637e471f842_005full.jpg
About the Osena Project
Covering 738 km² of strategic ground, the
Osena Project
is located southwest of and adjacent to K92
Mining's tenements that host the Kainantu Gold Mine. Priority prospects include Ontenu, a large-scale
cluster of five intrusive clusters hosting epithermal gold-copper veins, skarn mineralization and porphyry
gold-copper at depth extending over 5 km x 3 km. Recent results from Ontenu Central confirm gold-
bearing breccias and veins. The Ontenu Prospect is one of many occurring within a highly mineralized
corridor that extends more than 40 km northeast across the Kainantu District. More than half of the
Osena Project tenure remains unexplored.
About South Pacific Metals Corp.
South Pacific Metals Corp. is an emerging gold-copper exploration company operating in the heart of
Papua New Guinea's proven gold and copper production corridors. With an expansive 3,100 km² land
package and four transformative gold-copper projects contiguous with major producers K92 Mining,
PanAust and neighbouring Barrick/Zijin, new leadership and experienced in-country teams are
prioritizing thoughtful and rigorous technical programs focused on boots-on-the-ground exploration to
prioritize discovery across its portfolio projects: Anga, Osena, Kili Teke, and May River.
Immediately flanking K92 Mining's active drilling and gold producing operations to the northeast and
southwest, SPMC's Anga and Osena Projects are located within the high-grade Kainantu Gold District -
each having the potential to host similar-style lode-gold and porphyry copper-gold mineralization as that
present within K92 Mining's tenements. Kili Teke is an advanced exploration project situated only 40 km
from the world-class Porgera Gold Mine and hosts an existing Inferred Mineral Resource with multiple
opportunities for expansion and further discovery. The May River Project is located adjacent to the world-
renowned Frieda River copper-gold project, with historical drilling indicating potential for a significant,
untapped-gold mineralized system. SPMC common shares are listed on the TSX Venture Exchange
(TSXV: SPMC), the OTCQB Marketplace (OTCQB: SPMEF) and Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE:
6J00).
Quality Assurance and Quality Control
Rock Sampling & Trenches
Trenches are hand-dug to a depth of 1 to 1.5 metres. Sampling is conducted as 1m channel sample
along the lower side of the trench. Trenching is logged similarly to a drill hole and recorded for rock type,
alteration and signs of mineralization. Rock-chip samples are selective and collected by a Company
geologist in the field. Samples are sent to the ITS (PNG) Ltd (Intertek) Laboratory in Lae. Gold assays
were conducted using 50 g charge Fire Assay with Atomic Absorption Spectra finish (Intertek Code
FA50/AA), with a detection limit of 0.01ppm. Samples >1ppm (1 g/t) Au were re-assayed as a check
with no significant difference noted.
Multi-element assays were determined using four-acid digestion with Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass
Spectrometry (ICPMS) (Intertek code 4A/MS48). Certified reference material, duplicates and blanks
were inserted into the rock sample to monitor laboratory performance, with no significant variations from
expected results.
Soil Sampling
Soil sampling involves sieving a c-horizon soil to a <2 mm in the field. Soil samples were sent to the ITS
(PNG) Ltd (Intertek) Laboratory in Port Moresby for assay. Assaying for gold and other elements is
determined by aqua regia digestion with a mass-spectrometry finish (Intertek code AR01/MS). Certified
Reference Material, duplicates and blanks are inserted in the soil sample to monitor laboratory
performance, with no significant variations from expected results.
Qualified Person
The scientific and technical information disclosed in this release has been compiled by Company
geologists and reviewed and approved by Darren Holden, Ph.D., FAusIMM, a "Qualified Person" as
defined in National Instrument 43-101
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects
. Dr. Holden is a
Technical Advisor to the Company.
For further information please contact:
Michael Murphy, Executive Chair
or
Investor Relations
South Pacific Metals Corp.
Tel: +1-604-653-9464
Email:
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this
release.
Disclaimer and Forward-Looking Information
Statements contained in this release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements that
involve various risks and uncertainty affecting the business of SPMC. In making the forward-looking
statements, SPMC has applied certain assumptions that are based on information available to the
Company, including SPMC's strategic plan for the near and mid-term. There is no assurance that such
information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those
anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements may involve various risks and uncertainties
affecting the business of the Company. These forward-looking statements can generally be identified as
such because of the context of the statements, including such words as "believes," "anticipates,"
"expects," "plans", "may", "estimates", or words of a similar nature. Forward-looking statements or
information in this news release relate to, among other things: ongoing exploration and future exploration
programs, including results therefrom and impact thereof. These forward-looking statements and
information reflect the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based
upon a number of assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject
to significant operational, business, economic, regulatory, or other unforeseen uncertainties and
contingencies. These assumptions include, without limitation: success of the Company's projects, prices
for metals remaining as estimated, currency exchange rates remaining as estimated, availability of funds
for the Company's projects, capital, decommissioning and reclamation estimates, prices for energy
inputs, labour, materials, supplies and services (including transportation), no labour-related disruptions,
no unplanned delays or interruptions in scheduled exploration, all necessary permits, licenses and
regulatory approvals are received in a timely manner, and the ability to comply with environmental, health
and safety laws. The foregoing list of assumptions is not exhaustive. The Company cautions the reader
that forward-looking statements and information involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors that may cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release and the
Company has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors.
Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Such factors
include, without limitation: fluctuations in gold prices, fluctuations in prices for energy inputs, labour,
materials, supplies and services (including transportation), fluctuations in currency markets (such as the
Canadian dollar versus the U.S. dollar), operational risks and hazards inherent with the business of
mineral exploration, inadequate insurance or inability to obtain insurance to cover these risks and
hazards, the Company's ability to obtain all necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in a
timely manner, changes in laws, regulations and government practices, including environmental, export
and import laws and regulations, legal restrictions relating to mineral exploration, increased competition
in the mining industry for equipment and qualified personnel, the availability of additional capital, title
matters and the additional risks identified in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators
on SEDAR+ (
www.sedarplus.ca
). Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that
could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as
anticipated, estimated, described, or intended. Investors are cautioned against undue reliance on
forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date
hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume
any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. Mineralization hosted on
adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the
Company's property.
Appendix
Table 1.
2025 Trench Results Received to Date
Note: some samples pending Cu & Ag results; all samples pending full suite multi-element assays.
(Coordinates in WGS84 Zone 55).
Trench ID
Sample ID
East
North
Elevation
Gold (g/t)
Silver (g/t)
Copper (ppm)
ONT25TR-001
E00704
364556.3
9294540
1902
0.1
4
318.3
ONT25TR-001
E00706
364558.2
9294540.1
1902
0.15
3
384.7
ONT25TR-001
E00707
364559.2
9294540.1
1901
0.1
0.5
333.2
ONT25TR-001
E00708
364560.2
9294540.1
1901
0.14
3
337.6
ONT25TR-001
E00709
364563.2
9294540.3
1902
0.22
2
375.5
ONT25TR-001
E00710
364564.2
9294540.3
1902
0.39
3
432.2
ONT25TR-001
E00711
364565.1
9294540.4
1902
0.17
5
531.3
ONT25TR-001
E00713
364566.9
9294540.5
1903
0.23
3
452.3
ONT25TR-001
E00714
364567.8
9294540.6
1904
0.46
1
676.4
ONT25TR-001
E00716
364569.4
9294540.8
1905
0.1
3
830
ONT25TR-001
E00717
364570.2
9294540.8
1905
0.2
0.5
833
ONT25TR-001
E00719
364571.7
9294540.9
1907
1.34
3
520.2
ONT25TR-001
E00721
364573.2
9294541.1
1908
0.81
4
567.2
ONT25TR-001
E00722
364573.8
9294541.1
1909
0.78
6
642.6
ONT25TR-001
E00723
364574.5
9294541.1
1910
0.65
5
665.8
ONT25TR-001
E00724
364575.1
9294541.2
1910
0.58
2
490.7
ONT25TR-001
E00726
364575.7
9294541.2
1911
0.11
6
470.6
ONT25TR-001
E00729
364577.2
9294541.3
1914
2.53
6
346.7
ONT25TR-003
E00730
364554
9294590
1908
0.96
3
403.3
ONT25TR-003
E00733
364554.7
9294590.1
1905
0.13
2
631
ONT25TR-003
E00735
364555.7
9294590.3
1903
0.13
2
383.5
ONT25TR-003
E00737
364557.1
9294590.5
1901
0.13
4
501.2
ONT25TR-003
E00738
364557.9
9294590.7
1901
0.11
2
602.2
ONT25TR-003
E00739
364558.7
9294590.8
1900
0.1
0.5
558.4
ONT25TR-003
E00747
364566.2
9294592.1
1901
0.4
6
266.5
ONT25TR-003
E00749
364567.6
9294592.3
1902
0.16
2
280.7
ONT25TR-003
E00764
364573.5
9294592.7
1915
0.15
5
970
ONT25TR-003
E00766
364574.4
9294592.8
1917
0.87
5
744.3
ONT25TR-003
E00767
364574.9
9294592.9
1918
0.92
2
807
ONT25TR-003
E00768
364575.4
9294592.9
1919
0.66
7
667.2
ONT25TR-003
E00769
364575.9
9294593
1919
3.66
0.5
407.8
ONT25TR-003
E00770
364576.4
9294593.1
1920
0.24
4
682.5
ONT25TR-003
E00771
364576.9
9294593.2
1921
0.31
3
753.2
ONT25TR-003
E00772
364577.4
9294593.3
1922
5.05
3
1025
ONT25TR-003
E00773
364577.9
9294593.4
1923
0.21
3
659.1
ONT25TR-003
E00774
364578.4
9294593.6
1924
0.26
2
705.7
ONT25TR-003
E00776
364579
9294593.7
1925
0.22
2
627.6
ONT25TR-003
E00777
364579.5
9294593.8
1925
0.39
1
539.3
ONT25TR-003
E00780
364581.2
9294594.2
1928
1.08
6
952
ONT25TR-003
E00781
364581.8
9294594.3
1929
0.13
0.5
561.2
ONT25TR-003
E00787
364585.5
9294595
1933
0.15
1
191
ONT25TR-003
E00809
364604.3
9294596.1
1941
0.21
1
159
ONT25TR-003
E00811
364606.3
9294596.1
1942
0.12
1
118
ONT25TR-003
E00812
364607.3
9294596.1
1942
0.2
0.5
120
ONT25TR-003
E00813
364608.2
9294596.1
1942
0.24
1
100
ONT25TR-003
E00815
364610.2
9294596.1
1942
0.16
1
209
ONT25TR-003
E00821
364616.2
9294596
1943
0.2
1
214
ONT25TR-003
E00829
364623.1
9294595.9
1944
0.27
1
685
ONT25TR-001
E00830
364577.7
9294541.3
1915
2.45
2
320
ONT25TR-001
E00831
364578.3
9294541.4
1915
0.72
2
393
ONT25TR-001
E00832
364578.9
9294541.4
1916
1.74
4
364
ONT25TR-001
E00833
364579.7
9294541.4
1917
1.08
2
328
ONT25TR-001
E00836
364582.3
9294541.4
1918
0.11
0.5
164
ONT25TR-001
E00837
364583.1
9294541.4
1919
0.2
0.5
165
ONT25TR-001
E00838
364583.9
9294541.4
1920
0.22
1
219
ONT25TR-001
E00839
364584.7
9294541.4
1920
2.58
0.5
191
ONT25TR-001
E00840
364585.4
9294541.4
1921
0.17
4
196
ONT25TR-001
E00841
364586.2
9294541.4
1921
0.12
2
220
ONT25TR-001
E00842
364586.9
9294541.4
1922
0.12
3
297
ONT25TR-001
E00843
364587.6
9294541.4
1923
0.39
3
342
ONT25TR-001
E00844
364588.3
9294541.4
1924
1.78
2
439
ONT25TR-001
E00845
364589
9294541.4
1924
0.41
3
527
ONT25TR-001
E00846
364589.6
9294541.4
1925
1.94
3
311
ONT25TR-001
E00847
364590.2
9294541.4
1926
0.37
5
454
ONT25TR-001
E00848
364590.8
9294541.4
1927
0.34
4
242
ONT25TR-001
E00849
364591.4
9294541.4
1928
0.17
5
314
ONT25TR-001
E00851
364592
9294541.4
1928
0.85
5
479
ONT25TR-001
E00852
364592.5
9294541.4
1929
0.49
6
538
ONT25TR-001
E00853
364593
9294541.4
1930
0.19
2
280
ONT25TR-001
E00857
364594.7
9294541.4
1934
0.11
8
503
ONT25TR-001
E00861
364596
9294541.4
1937
0.13
1
424
ONT25TR-003
E00862
364624.1
9294595.9
1944
0.14
0.5
518
ONT25TR-003
E00863
364625.1
9294595.9
1944
0.37
1
550
ONT25TR-003
E00864
364626.1
9294595.8
1943
0.73
2
380
ONT25TR-003
E00865
364627
9294595.8
1943
0.11
0.5
366
ONT25TR-003
E00869
364629.7
9294595.5
1940
0.28
0.5
366
ONT25TR-003
E00870
364630.5
9294595.4
1939
0.57
2
265
ONT25TR-003
E00871
364631.2
9294595.4
1939
0.18
4
349
ONT25TR-003
E00873
364632.8
9294595.4
1937
0.24
2
687
ONT25TR-003
E00874
364633.6
9294595.3
1937
0.21
3
696
ONT25TR-003
E00883
364640
9294595.4
1932
0.14
1
317
ONT25TR-001
E00885
364596.3
9294541.4
1938
0.45
pending
pending
ONT25TR-001
E00886
364596.8
9294541.4
1939
0.22
pending
pending
ONT25TR-001
E00887
364597.5
9294541.3
1940
0.2
pending
pending
ONT25TR-001
E00888
364598.3
9294541.3
1941
1.63
pending
pending
ONT25TR-001
E00889
364599.3
9294541.2
1941
0.49
pending
pending
ONT25TR-001
E00890
364600.3
9294541.1
1941
0.33
pending
pending
Trench ID
Sample ID
East
North
Elevation
Gold (g/t)
Silver (g/t)
Copper (ppm)