RPM Valley Drilling Yields 0.5m at 364 g/t Gold, Confirming Large Mineralized System

Drilling Breakthrough at RPM Valley

Nova Minerals Limited has delivered a significant update on its flagship Estelle Gold and Critical Minerals Project in Alaska, revealing outstanding results from its 2025 drilling campaign at the RPM Valley deposit. The highlight is a record-setting high-grade intercept of 0.5 metres grading 364 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, with visible gold observed in the drill core; the highest grade recorded to date across the entire Estelle Project.

Alongside this exceptional intercept, the company reported multiple broad zones of gold mineralization exceeding 1 g/t Au, including intervals of up to 172 metres at 0.8 g/t Au and 155 metres at 0.9 g/t Au. These results confirm the continuity of a large mineralized system that remains open for expansion both laterally and at depth, underscoring the deposit’s scale and potential.

Implications for Resource and Development

The closely spaced infill drilling in 2025 is expected to underpin Nova’s maiden Measured and Indicated Mineral Resource estimate for RPM Valley, a critical milestone supporting the ongoing Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS). The PFS is progressing with METS Engineering conducting metallurgical test work, Rough Stock Mining undertaking mining studies, and Whittle Consulting performing optimisation analyses; all aimed at advancing RPM Valley towards development readiness.

Notably, the mineralization occurs within a granodiorite intrusive system with sheeted quartz and quartz-tourmaline veins, hosting arsenopyrite and visible gold. The deposit’s geological setting within the prolific Tintina Gold Belt, known for its world-class gold endowment, adds further weight to its strategic importance.

Exploring New Frontiers – Glacial Till Drilling

In a preliminary test, Nova also deployed reverse circulation drilling in the glacial till overlying the deposit, revealing a mineralized zone at least 30 metres thick across an extensive area of approximately 330,000 square metres. Although sample recovery was limited due to the unconsolidated nature of the till, the intercepts suggest potential amenability to heap leach processing; a cost-effective extraction method already proven effective at RPM with gold recoveries up to 68.7%.

Future work will focus on improved sampling techniques to better define this till-hosted mineralization, which represents a promising target for resource expansion and operational flexibility.

Looking Ahead

With all 2025 drilling assays now received and validated, Nova plans to update its Mineral Resource Estimate incorporating these latest results. Additional milestones include further drill results from ongoing exploration, surface geochemical and geophysical surveys, and continued metallurgical and environmental studies. The company’s CEO, Christopher Gerteisen, emphasised the significance of these findings, highlighting RPM Valley’s potential as a cornerstone asset for Nova’s growth strategy.

As Nova Minerals advances its Estelle Project through critical development phases, the market will be watching closely for how these robust drilling results translate into resource upgrades and project economics.