Highlands Pacific is currently engaged in a significant exploration program on its two Star Mountain tenements,  EL 1312 Nong River and EL 1392 Tifalmin.  Located in the rugged ranges 20km NE of the OK Tedi copper-gold mine, these leases cover ten known copper-gold porphyry and skarn prospects (Futik, Olgal, Rattatat, Bumtim, Unfin, Kum Kom Pad 48, Tuk, Awerm and Nong).  The current exploration program started in August 2010.

The Tifalmin porphyry and Nong skarn prospects were originally discovered in the 1960s at roughly the same time as Ok Tedi and Frieda.  Since 1971 when Kennecott drilled five holes on two of the prospects (Futik and Olgal), they have witnessed only sporadic and generally low level exploration activity despite the high prospectivity of the remote and craggy terrain.

As well as large copper/gold porphyries, later holes will target both higher-grade lower-tonnage skarn mineralization formed at the contact of the intrusive and surrounding sedimentary rocks.  The goal of this program is to identify prospects with a potential for grades of at least 1% copper equivalent.

Drilling Results January 2011