Eastern Papua New Guinea – 192 Moz of Gold and 37.2 Mt of Copper with Much More to Come
Academic research published just this month in the internationally recognised journal, Lithosphere, highlights that despite the significant level of copper-gold mineralisation defined in Eastern Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, there is much more to be discovered.
Eastern Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands boast 41 deposits containing over 192 million ounces of gold and 37.2 million tonnes of copper (Brandl et al. 2024). Despite this significant endowment at least 62 million tonnes of copper is estimated to be undiscovered in the region.
This endowment makes the area one of the most prolific areas for porphyry copper and epithermal gold deposits (Figure 1) in the world with a metal endowment comparable to long-established metal camps such as Abitibi Greenstone Belt and Yilgarn Craton.
Figure 1: Main Copper-Gold deposits of Eastern PNG and the Solomon Islands
Source: Brandl et al. 2024
Despite this impressive pedigree, Eastern Papua New Guinea does not receive the same level of investor attention as the long-established mining camps. This is partly due to the fact that copper was only discovered in Papua New Guinea in 1963 and while gold was first discovered in the country in 1852, as accidental traces in pottery, it was not until the 1980s when the gold exploration and mining industry really took off in the country.
Alongside the lack of longevity of mining and exploration in Eastern Papua New Guinea, the rugged terrain, lack of infrastructure, cultural differences, civil war, the existing regulatory framework and environmental opposition have all hampered the exploration and development of what is one of the most exciting mining jurisdictions globally.
Why is Eastern Papua New Guinea so Endowed with Metals?
The majority of the copper mineralisation in Eastern Papua New Guinea is believed to have been formed within the last 6-12 million years, and gold deposits within the last six million years, which makes this jurisdiction relatively young compared to other mineralised belts.
There are a number of factors which have resulted in the huge endowment of metal in this area that combine to make it such an exciting geological terrain, however, the overriding factor is tectonic.
Eastern Papua New Guinea has a uniquely fertile source of metal caused by repeated tectonic events that introduce new melts and fluids at the same locations multiple times and also enhance crustal permeability providing pathways for the mineralising fluids to transport metals, which results in so many Tier 1 deposits in close proximity.
Major Mines of Eastern Papua New Guinea
The geological processes that have caused an enrichment of mineralisation in Eastern Papua New Guinea have also resulted in the formation of some giant porphyry and epithermal deposits.
Major porphyry-type deposits include:
Major epithermal gold deposits include:
Explorers Searching for the Next Giant Deposit
Around these exciting discoveries are a number of junior explorers with exciting projects looking to find the next major mine.
South Pacific Metals
South Pacific Metals Corp. (TSXV:SPMC) is advancing a portfolio of projects located in the vicinity of major producers with large resource bases (Figure 2).
Figure 2: The Location of South Pacific Metals’ Projects
Source: South Pacific Metals
The Osena Gold-Copper Project is located adjacent to K92’s Kainantu Gold Mine and contains several targets for both porphyry and epithermal mineralisation. At the Ontenu Prospect four historic drill holes have defined large intersections of anomalous near-surface epithermal gold mineralisation. South Pacific is currently finalising its 3D geological and structural model of the project, tying in recent geochemical and geophysical results ahead of planning its maiden drill programme at Ontenu.
The Anga Gold-Copper project lies to the northeast of both the Kainantu Gold Mine and K92’s recent discovery at Arakompa where drilling recently returned some impressive results defining mineralisation over a strike of 750 m. Sampling in the Anga area has already returned highly anomalous gold at the surface and additional surface and rock chip samples have been sent for assay with the results pending. Post the results the company plans to commence drilling. Anga contains both epithermal and porphyry targets.
The Kili Teke Gold-Copper Porphyry Project is located 40 km west of Barrick’s Porgera Gold Mine and Summit Gold’s Mt Kare Project is located 20 km to the southeast. Kili Teke is a porphyry deposit that has an inferred mineral resource estimate of 1.81 Moz Au and 802 Kt Cu at an average grade of 0.24 g/t Au and 0.34% Cu. An AI-based targeting exercise defined 10 additional exploration targets for follow-up exploration, all of which are proximal to the existing resource base.
The May River Gold-Copper Project is located adjacent to PanAust’s Fredia River Project. May River contains 20 targets ranging from high-grade volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS), epithermal veins and porphyries.
Canterbury Resources
Canterbury Resources Limited ASX:CBY has a portfolio of projects, located on mainland Papua New Guinea and the coastal islands that surround it (Figure 3).
Figure 3: The Location of Canterbury Resources’ Projects
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Source: Canterbury Resources
At the Wamum Project, Canterbury has defined two significant deposits that have a combined inferred mineral resource estimate of 3.1 Moz Au and 781kt Cu at an average grade of 0.35g/t Au & 0.28% Cu. This project and Canterbury’s other projects located in the Morobe Province are part of a joint venture agreement with Syndicate Minerals, which is earning a 70% interest in the project by spending US$20 million.
Canterbury also holds the Bismarck Project on Manus Island, which is subject to a joint venture with Rio Tinto, which is earning up to an 80% interest in the project. Earlier this year the partners completed a six-hole (1,400m) drill programme testing grassroots porphyry and skarn targets. The programme did not appear to have interested any significant mineralisation but has indicated the presence of a fertile porphyry system, and potential skarns, distal to the current drilling.
Tolu Minerals
Tolu Minerals (ASX.TOK) is developing two projects, one more advanced located in mainland Papua New Guinea and one earlier stage located on New Britain Island (Figure 4).
Figure 4: The Location of Tolu Minerals’ Projects
Source: Tolu Minerals
The Tolukuma Gold Mine is an epithermal gold mine estimated to have produced 1 Moz Au and 2.4 Moz Ag between 1995 and 2005 at an average recovered grade of 14g/t Au and 50 g/t Ag. The project has a remaining inferred mineral resource estimate of 0.5 Moz Au and 1.95 Moz Ag at an average grade of 10g/t Au and 38g/t Ag, but recent exploration has confirmed the continuity of epithermal gold mineralisation for at least 5 km to the south southeast. Alongside this, the company is refurbishing and recommissioning the mine and plans to recommence production in December of this year.
At the earlier stage Mt Penck epithermal gold project, trenching and rock sampling have confirmed the presence of around ten gold mineralised trends, building on positive historic drilling from the area. In addition, a 1.5 km diameter sulphide polymetallic target has recently been identified from alteration and a low conductivity anomaly that has disseminated sulphides at its core. An Airborne Magneto Telluric survey is underway to refine these targets ahead of further drilling.
Great Pacific Gold Corp.
Great Pacific Gold Corp (TSXV: GPAC) has two projects Wild Dog, located on New Britain Island and Kesar-Arau located on Papua New Guinea’s mainland (Figure 5).
Figure 5: The Location of Great Pacific Gold Corp.’s Projects
Source: Great Pacific Gold Corp.
The Wild Dog project contains a small-scale open-pit heap leach mine that operated between 2007 and 2012. Historic drilling and rock chip sampling have defined epithermal gold mineralisation over an 11 km strike length, but the project also contains a number of porphyry targets.
The Kesar & Arau Projects are located in proximity to both K92’s Kainantu operation and South Pacific Metals Osena and Anga Projects. Kesar is a greenfield project with artisanal workings. Soil sampling completed this year has defined a number of epithermal targets across a 5.5 km strike. Drilling is underway with 13 holes (5,000 m) planned to test the Anteruno target which consists of a vein-set/stockwork zone covering a 1,000 m by 200 m area.
Conclusion
Eastern Papua New Guinea, contains some of the world's premier copper and gold deposits, vast in size and mineral endowment. Despite these impressive historical discoveries, exploration in the country remains in its infancy compared to similar more established mining camps like the Abitibi Greenstone Belt and Yilgarn Craton. This creates an exciting opportunity for junior explorers operating in Papua New Guinea to find the next big discovery.
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This newsletter has been published by Mining and Metals Research Corporation (“the Company”). The information used to compile the article has been collected from publicly available sources and the Company cannot guarantee the 100% accuracy of those sources. This communication is intended for information purposes only and does not constitute an offer, recommendation, solicitation, to make any investments. Nothing in this communication constitutes investment, legal accounting or tax advice, a personal recommendation for any specific investor. The Company do not accept liability for loss arising from the use of this communication. This communication is not directed to any person in any jurisdiction where, by reason of that person's nationality, residence or otherwise, such communications are prohibited. The Company may derive fees from the production of this newsletter.
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1wImmaculate Javia
Master of Philosophy in Mineral Processing - Extractive Metallurgy Aspiring Geometallurgist and Mineral Exploration Specialist/Consultant.
1wWhile due consideration to the Eastern mineralisation, most would recommend scoping on the influential Papuan Fold Belt and New Guinea Mobile belt that gave rise to the afore mentioned gold and copper deposits. Both belts striking West to South-East as indicated by most maps boundrying the lighter Australian Plate with the heavier Pacific plate. Most mineralisation occurred along, and/or influenced by this perforated tectonic boundaries.
MAusIMM | Master of Applied Science (Applied Geology) | BSc (Geology) | Geoscientist |
1wWell articulated Ryan D. Long, perhaps the "Eastern" PNG is where the PCD are mostly found, potential for more deep-seated porphyry body from the current Mines. Potential for developing Super pits in the future. Investment in Mineral Exploration has been a challenge, however, on a global scale, when the Cu grade drops and Cu mines are mining Low grades, PNG would become a country to invest for high grades Cu/Au.
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1wGreat selling point for the industry
Geologist
1wWhere is west Papua New Guinea?