Nova Minerals has launched a major 2026 exploration campaign at its Estelle Project in Alaska, combining a 10,000-metre drilling program with advancing antimony production backed by US$43.4 million in U.S. Department of War funding.
- 10,000m drilling targets gold expansion and antimony veins
- US$43.4 million Department of War grant funds antimony production
- Lab-scale military-grade antimony trisulfide samples near completion
- Construction underway for ore sorting and antimony refinery
- PFS studies progressing for gold resource and mine development
Massive Drilling Campaign Targets Gold and Antimony Growth
Nova Minerals (ASX:NVA, NASDAQ:NVA) has kicked off one of the largest drilling campaigns ever at its Estelle Gold and Critical Minerals Project in Alaska, planning up to 10,000 metres of diamond core drilling this year. The program will deploy three rigs focused on expanding the gold resource at the flagship RPM deposit and advancing antimony exploration at the Stibium prospect, where exposed stibnite veins offer promising development potential. This aggressive push aims to underpin resource growth and support Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) milestones.
The drilling will also extend to regional mapping and bulk sampling across key prospects including West Wing and Portage Pass, with operations set to leverage near 24-hour daylight during the Alaskan summer for continuous activity. Target flexibility remains, allowing adjustments as geological data emerges from ongoing core analysis.
At RPM, approximately 7,000 metres of drilling will focus on expanding the eastern strike extension, increasing resource confidence through infill drilling, and testing new high-grade targets identified north of RPM North. Recent 2025 assays showed broad near-surface gold intersections, including 167 metres at 0.7 g/t Au and surface rock chips up to 24.6 g/t Au west of RPM, highlighting the deposit’s upside potential. Meanwhile, Stibium will see around 3,000 metres of targeted drilling, with a new drill pad designed to improve access to antimony-rich veins while avoiding challenging terrain encountered previously.
Advancing Antimony Production with US Government Backing
Nova’s antimony ambitions are backed by a US$43.4 million award from the U.S. Department of War, positioning the company as an early mover in establishing a domestic supply chain for this critical mineral. The company has already produced lab-scale antimony metal and military-grade antimony trisulfide from Estelle stibnite ores, with assay and certification results expected imminently. This milestone is pivotal for validating the ore’s quality for strategic applications.
Construction is underway for the Stibium access trail and expansion of the Whiskey Bravo airstrip to support logistics. Heavy earthmoving equipment and ore sorting facilities have been delivered to site, with ore sorters expected soon to enable efficient processing of antimony ore. The antimony processing plant and related equipment are on order for installation at Port Mackenzie, targeting commissioning by late 2026 or early 2027. This integrated approach aims to move swiftly from exploration to pilot-scale production, underscoring Nova’s dual focus on gold development and critical minerals supply.
These developments build on recent progress highlighted at the Alaska Sustainable Energy Conference, where Nova’s CEO Christopher Gerteisen emphasised the strategic importance of reducing U.S. reliance on foreign critical mineral imports through domestic production. The company’s plans for a vertically integrated antimony supply chain are a key differentiator in the sector US$43.4 million Department of War funding.
Infrastructure and Metallurgical Work Support PFS Progress
Alongside drilling and antimony production, Nova is advancing its gold assets through detailed engineering, metallurgical testwork, and environmental studies to support the Estelle Project’s PFS. Site infrastructure construction includes the crushing and ore sorting facility, with key equipment already on site and ore sorters expected shortly. These facilities are designed to produce concentrate for transport to the Port Mackenzie refinery, integrating gold and antimony processing streams.
Metallurgical programs continue to refine recovery and processing flowsheets, aiming to enhance project economics. Environmental baseline and community engagement studies are underway to facilitate permitting and ensure sustainable development. The Korbel deposit, a significant ore source with a high-confidence resource classification, will see ongoing PFS-level testwork but no drilling in 2026. Meanwhile, detailed mapping and sampling at West Wing and soil sampling at Portage Pass aim to define future drill targets following encouraging assay results, including gold grades up to 15.5 g/t and copper up to 6.9% at West Wing, and rock samples up to 14.3 g/t Au at Portage Pass New gold anomaly at Portage Pass.
Exploration Tools Expand with Geophysical Surveys
Adding to the exploration toolkit, Nova has commenced a Z-Axis Tipper Electromagnetic (ZTEM) airborne survey covering the entire Estelle claim block. This geophysical method is proven for detecting reduced intrusion-related gold systems and copper porphyries beneath cover, offering potential for new discoveries under the Kahiltna flysch. Complementary infill reconnaissance sampling will fill gaps in the existing dataset and follow up on any anomalies generated by the survey, continuing the systematic approach that has identified multiple prospects across Estelle.
The 2026 program thus represents a comprehensive campaign integrating drilling, geophysics, metallurgy, and infrastructure development, all aimed at advancing Estelle’s twin pillars of gold resource growth and critical mineral production. Nova’s ability to move from lab-scale antimony samples to pilot production within the year highlights the project’s momentum and strategic relevance in the U.S. critical minerals landscape Heavy Equipment Delivered to Estelle.
Bottom Line?
Nova’s 2026 campaign melds aggressive drilling with antimony production milestones, but execution risks and assay results will shape the path to commercialisation.
Questions in the middle?
- Will assay certifications confirm military-grade antimony quality for strategic markets?
- How will drilling results at RPM and Stibium influence resource estimates and mine planning?
- Can Nova maintain its accelerated timeline to pilot antimony production amid Alaskan logistical challenges?