Nova Minerals Limited Launches 15,000m Alaskan Drilling Campaign to Unlock High-Grade Gold & Antimony Amid Historic Metal Price Surge
Friday, May 30, 2025
at
8:25 am
Nova Minerals Limited is set to launch a 15,000m drilling program at its Estelle Project in Alaska, targeting gold and antimony. Robust field preparations and near-continuous summer drilling support potential resource expansion and project feasibility amid historic high metal prices.
Nova Minerals Limited has initiated an ambitious 15,000-metre drilling campaign at its Estelle Project in Alaska, as the company gears up for key exploration and resource development work during the summer season. Preparations are well advanced at the Whiskey Bravo airstrip location, with helicopter arrivals, camp de-winterization, pad building crews, and upgraded reverse circulation (RC) rigs already in place to support drilling operations. The company is employing two diamond drill rigs alongside its RC rig—recently enhanced to drill up to 100 metres—aiming for continuous, cost-efficient drilling under Alaska’s near 24-hour summer daylight.
The 2025 field season will concentrate on three main areas. At RPM, Nova plans approximately 10,000 metres of drilling to test strike extensions, further delineate high-grade gold mineralization, and improve its understanding of the underlying fault system. The Stibium prospect will see about 3,000 metres of drilling targeting a maiden mineral resource for both gold and antimony. Notably, surface sampling at Stibium revealed an 800-metre by 400-metre zone with standout results of up to 141 g/t gold and 60.5% antimony in rock samples. At Korbel, where the company has already defined a multimillion-ounce gold resource, 2,000 metres of drilling is set to evaluate a potential higher-grade starter pit with the option to expand to other high-priority targets in the valley.
The exploration program is complemented by a comprehensive surface sampling and mapping initiative across the broader Estelle Project area. Field teams will conduct extensive geological mapping and multi-element sampling to identify and advance new high-priority prospects, thereby supporting future resource growth and facilitating the ongoing feasibility study test-work. Additionally, Nova is in advanced discussions regarding a potential U.S. Department of Defense funding application, which, if successful, could allow the deployment of extra diamond drill rigs to further expand drilling efforts—including at the highly prospective Styx target.
Gold and antimony prices, currently trading near historical highs, form a key component of the project’s strategic appeal. The drilling results, along with progressive assay releases for gold, antimony, and multiple other elements, are expected to provide valuable data to support both feasibility studies and the streamlining of the permitting process.
Market sentiment appears mixed. On the bullish side, the company’s aggressive drilling campaign, supported by upgraded rig capabilities and potential DoD funding, suggests strong growth prospects driven by high metal prices and strategic near-surface assets. However, bearish concerns remain regarding operational challenges in Alaska’s demanding environment, potential permitting delays, and broader market fluctuations that could affect funding and commodity prices.
Overall, Nova Minerals Limited’s 2025 field campaign represents a significant step forward in advancing the Estelle Project, offering promising near-term milestones and a strategic outlook aimed at unlocking substantial economic value from its gold and antimony assets.