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TSX.V SPMC:
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South Pacific Metals Reports Exceptional Surface Trenching Results at Osena Gold-Copper Project, Including 8.82g/t Gold Sample at Ontenu Prospect, Kainantu District

Assays Confirm Mineralization Across Entire 79 m trench, Including 4 m Averaging 4.52g/t Au

Vancouver, B.C. – August 27, 2024South Pacific Metals Corp. (TSX-V: SPMC; FSE: 6J00) (“SPMC” or the “Company”), an emerging gold-copper exploration company operating in the heart of Papua New Guinea’s proven production corridors, is pleased to announce initial assay results from its Osena Gold-Copper Project surface exploration program, completed September 2023 at the Ontenu Prospect and surrounding areas. 

Highlights:

  • Trench 1 returned significant results including a peak trench rock sample value of 8.82 g/t Au, 13.8 g/t Ag, 0.25% Cu, 580 ppm Mo, 0.93% Zn.
    • 79 m averaging 0.75 g/t Au, 981 ppm Cu, 1.73 g/t Ag, 1877 ppm Zn, including:
      • 16 m averaging 1.25 g/t Au, 0.15% Cu, 0.18% Zn; and
      • 4 m averaging 4.52 g/t Au, 0.13% Cu, 0.23% Zn.
  • Trench 1 mineralization occurs across the entire 79 m trench and is expected to extend to the east and west over more than 200 m width.
  • Regional rock samples returned up to 2.69 g/t Au, 71.3 g/t Ag, 0.26% Cu, 5.3% Zn.
  • The Ontenu Prospect is part of an interpreted multi-intrusive, large-scale gold-copper porphyry system spanning an area of at least 2.5 km by 1 km. Metal signatures (Au-Te-Bi) in assayed soils and rocks suggest a later metal-bearing event overprinting an earlier porphyry Cu-Au-Mo event, similar to that observed at other major deposits such as at the Kainantu and Porgera Mines.

“We are thrilled to see Ontenu results as high as 8.82 g/t gold within a broad alteration halo, confirming the significance of this prospect that remains open in all directions,” commented Cathy Fitzgerald, President and Chief Geologist. “We are also highly encouraged by the continuity of gold mineralization found in Trench 1 assays, demonstrating excellent gold endowment potential that bodes well for future exploration efforts. These results, along with Ontenu’s location at the southwestern end of the Kainantu Transfer Zone, make this a high-priority prospect for the Company. A comprehensive review of all historical and modern data for the Ontenu Prospect and broader area is underway, with the aim to fully characterize the scale and size of this mineralized system, identify additional targets and inform further exploration.”

Ontenu Prospect Exploration Program

From July to September 2023, the Company (then operating as Kainantu Resources Ltd. under previous management), conducted surface sampling and detailed geological, alteration and structural mapping over the core area of the Ontenu Prospect. A total of 118 reconnaissance rock samples, 150 trench samples from five trenches and 116 soil samples were collected and secured in storage until being sent for assay this year (see news release dated July 3, 2024). These samples have now been assayed by Intertek Laboratory, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, with preliminary results discussed in this news release.

Initial Surface Trenching Results

The Company interprets that the Ontenu Prospect at surface is the upper part of a significant gold-copper porphyry system.

Trench 1 is a 79 m long, east-west oriented channel excavated to a depth of 1 to 1.5 metres (see Figure 1). This trench targeted an area associated with high tenor gold in soils (between 80-360 ppb Au) over a line-length of 260 m. The exposed rocks in the trench revealed weathered gossanous material and was mapped as a combination of microdiorite, diorite porphyry and diorite breccia. The trench was oriented E-W and is proximal to mapped silica ledges and feldspar-hornblende porphyries intruding the sampled microdiorite. Stockwork veins and gossanous material (iron oxides from weathering of sulphide material) were mapped in the trench. The area has not been previously drilled, and based on regional interpretation, may link along a WNW-ESE striking structural corridor to a gold-in-soil anomaly (80 to 210ppb Au) located 300m to the ESE. The area to the north (and northwest) of Trench 1 has not yet been soil sampled by the Company. Further, many rock samples peripheral to Ontenu’s core area returned high grade results that warrant following: Regional rock samples returned up to 2.69 g/t Au, 71.3 g/t Ag, 0.26 %Cu, and 5.3 %Zn.

Soil sampling was designed to complement two soil lines previously collected by the Company in 2022 (see news release dated March 23, 2023). Soils were collected at a nominal 50 m spacing along E-W lines with 100 metres spacing between lines. Nearly the entire area sampled, over 1 km by 800 m has highly anomalous gold in soils. The peak soil assay result returned was 1,560 ppb Au (1.56 g/t Au). As evidenced by high tenor gold in soils on the last lines of the soil survey, the soil anomaly is likely to continue farther to the west, north and south of the current area sampled.

The Company anticipates reporting full results, including review and interpretation of all assays and historical data in September 2024.

Figure 1: Ontenu Porphyry Prospect Geology and Recent Soil and Rock Results

Figure 2: Ontenu Porphyry Prospect Trench 1 Gold Assay Results

About the Osena Project

Covering 626 km² of strategic ground, the Osena Project is located southwest of and adjacent to K92’s tenements that host the Kainantu Gold Mine. Priority prospects include Ontenu, a porphyry copper-gold and epigenetic gold prospect with exposed porphyritic diorite intrusive phases hosting supergene copper minerals, and overprinted by a later gold mineralized event associated. The Ontenu Prospect is one of many occurring within a highly mineralized corridor that extends more than 40 km northeast across the Kainantu District.  

Figure 3: Osena Project Location in the Kainantu Gold District

Quality Assurance and Quality Control

All Ontenu samples were collected under previous management, with the samples securely stored in the Kainantu office of the Company for the past year, prior to being sent to the laboratory for assaying. 

Trenching and Rock Sampling

Trench samples are collected from a hand-excavated trench to a depth of approximately 1 m. The trench wall and floor is mapped and a representative sample is collected each metre along the length of the trench. Rock samples are collected from in-situ outcrops during reconnaissance work.

Trench and rock samples were sent to the ITS (PNG) Ltd (Intertek) Laboratory in Port Moresby. Gold assays were conducted using 30 g charge Fire Assay with Atomic Absorption Spectra finish (Intertek Code FA25/OES), with a detection limit of 0.01ppm. Samples >1 ppm (1 g/t) Au were re-assayed as a check with no significant difference noted.

Multi-element assays were determined using 4-acid digestion with Induced Coupled Mass-Spectrometry (ICPMS) (Intertek code 4A/MS48). Certified reference material, duplicates and blanks were inserted into the sample stream 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 with the sample secured on site before being staged. 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 sample stream to monitor laboratory performance.

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information disclosed in this release has been compiled by Company geologists reviewed and approved by Darren Holden, Ph.D., FAusIMM, a “Qualified Person” as defined under the Canadian Institute of Mining National Instrument 43-101, 2014 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Dr. Holden is a Technical Advisor to the Company.

About South Pacific Metals Corp.

South Pacific Metals Corp (“SPMC”) 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 3,000 km² land package and four transformative gold-copper projects contiguous with major producers K92 Mining, PanAust and neighbouring Barrick Gold, 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’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’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 (TSX.V: SPMC) and Frankfurt Stock Exchange (FSE: 6J00).

For further information please contact:

Michael Murphy, Executive Chairman and CEO

South Pacific Metals Corp.

Tel: +1 604-428-6128
Email: info@southpacificmetals.ca

Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) 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 uncertainty 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: formulation of plans for drill testing; and the success related to any future exploration or development programs. 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 construction and production, 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+ (available at 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 1

Table 1: Results from Trench 1 (coordinates WGS84 UTM Zone 55)

TrenchIDGridEastingNorthingFromToLengthRock TypeGold (g/t)Silver (g/t)Copper (ppm)Zinc (ppm)Mo (ppm)
Trench 1SUTM55364554.89294562.6011Gossan1.575.2868490133
Trench 1SUTM55364555.69294562.2121Gossan1.10.968749340
Trench 1SUTM55364556.59294561.8231Gossan0.391.468245448
Trench 1SUTM55364557.39294561.4341 Porphyry0.342.1104553933
Trench 1SUTM55364558.29294561.1451 Porphyry0.791.9156358799
Trench 1SUTM55364559.09294560.9561 Porphyry0.250.2561035925
Trench 1SUTM55364559.99294560.6671 Porphyry0.311.366742848
Trench 1SUTM55364560.89294560.4781 Porphyry0.510.2572552533
Trench 1SUTM55364561.79294560.1891 Porphyry0.114.255642840
Trench 1SUTM55364562.69294559.89101 Porphyry0.22.676169655
Trench 1SUTM55364563.59294559.510111 Porphyry0.151.159575527
Trench 1SUTM55364564.49294559.111121 Porphyry0.120.860995835
Trench 1SUTM55364565.39294558.812131 Porphyry0.10.2545674424
Trench 1SUTM55364566.39294558.713141Microdiorite0.090.2527150129
Trench 1SUTM55364567.29294558.614151Microdiorite0.10.25184595107
Trench 1SUTM55364568.19294558.415161Microdiorite0.130.25340126838
Trench 1SUTM55364569.19294558.316171Microdiorite0.940.25310135224
Trench 1SUTM55364570.09294558.217181Microdiorite1.920.25426282516
Trench 1SUTM55364570.99294558.018191Microdiorite0.1711484276032
Trench 1SUTM55364571.99294557.919201Microdiorite2.440.252048272276
Trench 1SUTM55364572.89294557.820211Microdiorite0.280.2522712106118
Trench 1SUTM55364573.89294557.521221Microdiorite1.910.2521422086218
Trench 1SUTM55364574.79294557.222231Microdiorite0.240.62040278791
Trench 1SUTM55364575.79294557.023241Microdiorite0.50.61549286577
Trench 1SUTM55364576.69294556.724251Microdiorite0.171.21769253288
Trench 1SUTM55364577.69294556.425261Microdiorite1.512485849172
Trench 1SUTM55364578.59294556.126271Microdiorite3.360.51668951136
Trench 1SUTM55364579.59294555.927281Microdiorite2.310.913901491250
Trench 1SUTM55364580.49294555.628291Volcanic Dike0.540.259101009155
Trench 1SUTM55364581.49294555.629301Volcanic Dike0.940.81365550580
Trench 1SUTM55364582.49294555.630311Volcanic Dike1.320.259541255195
Trench 1SUTM55364583.39294555.531321Volcanic Dike1.410.251251886106
Trench 1SUTM55364584.39294555.532331Hornblende Diorite0.410.251246287244
Trench 1SUTM55364585.39294555.533341Hornblende Diorite0.131794319359
Trench 1SUTM55364586.29294555.534351Hornblende Diorite0.150.7742538032
Trench 1SUTM55364587.29294555.535361Hornblende Diorite0.220.7947465348
Table 1: Results from Trench 1 (coordinates WGS84 UTM Zone 55) continued
TrenchIDGridEastingNorthingFromToLengthRock TypeGold (g/t)Silver (g/t)Copper (ppm)Zinc (ppm)Mo (ppm)
Trench 1SUTM55364588.29294555.536371Hornblende Diorite0.210.25780767424
Trench 1SUTM55364589.19294555.437381Hornblende Diorite0.190.25920805517
Trench 1SUTM55364590.19294555.538391Hornblende Diorite0.21.7719557830
Trench 1SUTM55364591.19294555.639401Hornblende Diorite0.080.25595578210
Trench 1SUTM55364592.19294555.740411Hornblende Diorite0.10.833252268
Trench 1SUTM55364593.19294555.741421Breccia0.260.25386928924
Trench 1SUTM55364594.19294555.942431Breccia0.080.252890.0120
Trench 1SUTM55364595.19294556.043441Breccia0.131.6312847648
Trench 1SUTM55364596.19294556.244451 Porphyry8.821.61661424271
Trench 1SUTM55364597.19294556.445461 Porphyry3.912.51043166226
Trench 1SUTM55364598.19294556.546471 Porphyry0.780.2540913144
Trench 1SUTM55364599.19294556.747481 Porphyry4.745.21978203930
Trench 1SUTM55364600.09294557.148491 Porphyry0.171.6962220436
Trench 1SUTM55364600.99294557.549501 Porphyry0.141.71148228637
Trench 1SUTM55364601.89294557.950511 Porphyry0.160.25842191849
Trench 1SUTM55364602.79294558.251521 Porphyry0.130.25688172032
Trench 1SUTM55364603.69294558.352531 Porphyry0.120.25774151257
Trench 1SUTM55364604.69294558.453541 Porphyry0.253.31200179432
Trench 1SUTM55364605.59294558.454551 Porphyry0.1711065176630
Trench 1SUTM55364606.59294558.555561 Porphyry0.131.11148171637
Trench 1SUTM55364607.49294558.656571 Porphyry0.193.51642132724
Trench 1SUTM55364608.49294558.657581 Porphyry0.2411236107559
Trench 1SUTM55364609.39294558.758591 Porphyry0.121.1941127611
Trench 1SUTM55364610.39294558.859601 Porphyry0.110.9106413156
Trench 1SUTM55364611.29294558.860611 Porphyry0.120.757384226
Trench 1SUTM55364612.19294558.761621 Porphyry0.352.8108574733
Trench 1SUTM55364613.19294558.762631 Porphyry0.12275295522
Trench 1SUTM55364614.09294558.663641 Porphyry0.190.674388926
Trench 1SUTM55364614.99294558.564651 Porphyry0.270.2594776727
Trench 1SUTM55364615.99294558.465661 Porphyry0.640.2576626736
Trench 1SUTM55364616.89294558.366671 Porphyry0.2210130684248
Trench 1SUTM55364617.79294558.267681 Porphyry2.159.1156159762
Trench 1SUTM55364618.69294558.168691 Porphyry0.12363678236
Trench 1SUTM55364619.69294558.069701 Porphyry0.220.872466353
Trench 1SUTM55364620.69294558.070711 Porphyry0.081.473064872
Trench 1SUTM55364621.59294558.071721 Porphyry0.231.266786436
Trench 1SUTM55364622.59294558.172731 Porphyry0.33171271282
Trench 1SUTM55364623.59294558.173741 Porphyry0.6812.7148079543
Table 1: Results from Trench 1 (coordinates WGS84 UTM Zone 55) continued
TrenchIDGridEastingNorthingFromToLengthRock TypeGold (g/t)Silver (g/t)Copper (ppm)Zinc (ppm)Mo (ppm)
Trench 1SUTM55364624.59294558.174751 Porphyry2.14.91421112458
Trench 1SUTM55364625.59294558.275761 Porphyry0.562.365182856
Trench 1SUTM55364626.49294558.276771 Porphyry2.0613.8826707214
Trench 1SUTM55364627.49294558.277781 Porphyry0.260.872754054
Trench 1SUTM55364628.49294558.378791 Porphyry0.194.464853239

Table 2: New Rock chip results of Au >0.1g/t Au, and/or Cu >1000ppm (coordinates WGS84 UTM z55)

Sample IDEastingNorthingGold (g/t)Silver (g/t)Copper (ppm)Zinc (ppm)
E0046236543592949462.699.1341385
E00456364455929463825.2222525957
E0008336567192943471.4715.727173
E0007636500692944931.344.81100157
E0007736589892946181.268.761726
E0008136540292944780.7571.3860475
E0015136452392939520.71.61505226
E0010736539792944790.6618419353
E0007836587192946130.6515.62274825
E0032036457392946580.581.9548412
E0046136540792949760.3810.759182
E0011936556692940880.3520.51532112
E0012136497392937380.342.486437
E0013936501192940320.3429.998252922
E0015936463392938270.3113.120039649
E0006836516292948200.313.83190.01
E0011636581892942920.296.7165240
E0009836582892944900.275.2106185
E0010336550892946950.262.575291
E0012036556092940860.2520.61253215
E0013336499292939020.241.7408489
E0013836501192940320.2411.84302961
E0007536495092945700.221725449
E0012236497192937430.21.82476221
E0045936499392946070.21.31644351
E0018036458792944730.171.85202379
E0014136412792943080.150.251743
E0012336495692937990.141.447108
E0014236412792943080.140.2536690
E0013736502292940170.133.7292991
E0015236455692938810.135.878493
E0045836499392946160.130.25130184
E0007436499992946090.112.6296850
E0008036519992944950.10.257715
E0011036581992944130.091.51015284
E0008636444792945420.040.72641221