Nova Minerals Achieves Over 95% Gold Recovery with Coarse Flotation at Korbel
Nova Minerals has achieved gold recoveries exceeding 95% from low-grade Korbel ore using coarse particle flotation, producing concentrates up to 26.7 g/t Au. This breakthrough could cut costs and unlock more of the resource in its Alaska Estelle project.
- High-grade gold concentrate up to 26.7 g/t Au from Korbel flotation
- Gold recoveries consistently above 90%, peaking at 98.3%
- Coarse particle flotation may reduce capital and operating costs
- Test-work part of ongoing Pre-Feasibility Study metallurgical program
- Proposed flowsheet integrates flotation with downstream CIL treatment
Korbel Ore Shows Strong Response to Coarse Particle Flotation
Nova Minerals Corp (ASX:NVA, NYSE American:NVA) has reported a significant metallurgical milestone from its Korbel deposit within the Estelle Gold and Critical Minerals Project in Alaska. Bench-scale flotation tests on low-grade Korbel ore yielded gold concentrates grading as high as 26.7 grams per tonne (g/t) Au, with gold recoveries consistently exceeding 90% and peaking at 98.3% in some tests.
Crucially, these recoveries were achieved at coarser grind sizes; up to 500 microns; far above conventional flotation fineness. This suggests that coarse particle flotation could materially reduce both capital and operational expenditure by simplifying processing and reducing energy consumption.
Flotation Results Highlight Potential for Cost Savings and Resource Upside
CEO Christopher Gerteisen described the results as a "major breakthrough" in the company's Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) metallurgical program. The flotation produced a concentrate representing only 2-3% of the total mass, concentrating the gold effectively while maintaining recoveries above 90% across multiple tests.
The test-work, conducted on composite samples from diamond drill holes KBDH-005, KBDH-011 and KBDH-025, demonstrated that the Korbel ore is highly amenable to HydroFloat technology, a coarse particle flotation method. This technology’s application could simplify downstream operations and significantly enhance project economics by enabling profitable processing of lower-grade material within the bulk-tonnage deposit.
Detailed Metallurgical Testing Supports Optimized Processing Flowsheet
The company provided detailed results showing gold recoveries ranging from 41.6% at the finest 1000-micron grind to 98.3% at 75 microns, with the best balance of recovery and concentrate grade at 150 to 250 microns. Sulfur and arsenic recoveries also remained high, indicating effective sulfide flotation.
Nova’s proposed flowsheet integrates early upgrading via coarse particle flotation with downstream Carbon-in-Leach (CIL) treatment, aiming to maximize gold recovery from the Korbel resource. This approach could unlock more of the deposit’s value by improving resource conversion rates over the mine life.
Ongoing Work and Broader Project Context
Metallurgical testing continues to explore even coarser grind sizes to further enhance cost efficiencies. Meanwhile, Nova is advancing its 2026 drilling program at Estelle, with assay results pending, as it seeks to expand and upgrade its resource base.
The Estelle project, located in Alaska’s prolific Tintina Gold Belt, hosts multiple multi-million-ounce gold resources and critical minerals including antimony. Nova’s strategy is supported by a US$43.4 million award from the US Department of War to develop a domestic antimony supply chain, targeting production by late 2026 or 2027.
These flotation results come shortly after Nova Minerals’ recent corporate restructuring and US redomiciliation, which included a successful scheme of arrangement and NYSE American listing, positioning the company for growth in a tier-one jurisdiction.
Bottom Line?
Nova Minerals’ coarse flotation breakthrough at Korbel could reshape Estelle’s economics, but full-scale validation and ongoing drilling results will be critical to confirm its impact.
Questions in the middle?
- Will coarse particle flotation scale effectively in full production at Korbel?
- How will further metallurgical refinements influence capital and operating cost estimates?
- What impact will upcoming 2026 drilling assays have on resource conversion and mine planning?
