08:50 AM EDT, 07/19/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Great Pacific Gold ( FSXLF ) said Friday that it commenced drilling at the Arau project in Papua New Guinea.

The company said it completed the rehabilitation of road access to the project and constructed nine drill pads. After that, it mobilized a reverse circulation drill rig to mark the start of exploration.

Great Pacific said drilling will seek to confirm copper-gold porphyry mineralization underneath the skarn mineralization at the project.

The company noted that this is the first drilling it conducted on its projects in Papua New Guinea.

Great Pacific said it is also preparing the Kesar Creek project for a drilling program.

The company's share price fell 6.9% yesterday to $0.67 on the TSXV.