Stelar Metals has secured environmental approval for its inaugural ~3,000m Reverse Circulation drilling campaign at the Hill of Leaders Tungsten Project, set to begin in August 2026. This marks the first deep drilling beneath a high-grade tungsten system with significant strike and width in the Northern Territory.
- Environmental license granted for maiden RC drilling
- Phase 1 program targets ~3,000m across three sections
- First-ever deep test of tungsten system in 75 years
- High-grade surface samples up to 6.1% WO₃ underpin drill targets
- Drilling coincides with tightening global tungsten supply
Environmental Approval Unlocks First Deep Drilling
Stelar Metals Limited (ASX:SLB) has received the green light from the Northern Territory Department of Mining and Energy to commence its maiden Reverse Circulation (RC) drilling program at the Hill of Leaders Tungsten Project. Scheduled for August 2026, the Phase 1 campaign will drill approximately 3,000 metres across three sections, aiming to test the grade and continuity of tungsten mineralisation beneath a mineralised vein system that has seen no bedrock drilling in its 75-year history.
High-Grade Surface Discoveries Set the Stage
The Hill of Leaders field boasts more than 2 kilometres of exposed strike and corridors up to 200 metres wide. Surface rock chip sampling has returned exceptional tungsten grades, including assays as high as 6.1% WO₃, alongside elevated molybdenum, bismuth, and copper. These results provide a compelling foundation for the upcoming drilling program, which will be the first to explore the depth extent of the tungsten-bearing quartz vein and greisen system.
Advanced Targeting Informed by Airborne Survey
Drill targets have been refined using a recently completed ultra-high definition (UHD) airborne magnetic and radiometric survey. Processed with AI-assisted algorithms, the survey revealed subtle structural and alteration features invisible in historical data, aligning with known tungsten-rich veins and enhancing the precision of the Phase 1 drill plan. This technological edge positions Stelar to efficiently test the system's potential scale and grade continuity.
Strategic Timing Amid Global Supply Constraints
The timing of this maiden drilling campaign is notable against a backdrop of tightening global tungsten supply, driven by Chinese export restrictions and intensifying Western efforts to secure critical minerals. Executive Chair Stephen Biggins emphasised the rapid progress from acquisition to drilling approval and surface discoveries, highlighting the Northern Territory's re-emergence as a significant tungsten province and the project's potential to contribute to strategic supply chains.
Historical Context and Next Steps
While shallow aircore drilling conducted two decades ago intersected near-surface tungsten mineralisation, Stelar's program represents the first genuine test of the system at depth. The company's experienced exploration team is poised to deliver transformative results in the coming months, with assay outcomes eagerly anticipated by the market. Investors will be watching how this first-mover drilling campaign advances understanding of the Hill of Leaders' resource potential.
Bottom Line?
Stelar’s maiden deep drilling at Hill of Leaders could redefine tungsten supply prospects in the Northern Territory, but assay results will be critical to validate the system’s scale and grade continuity.
Questions in the middle?
- Will Phase 1 drilling confirm the high-grade continuity suggested by surface samples?
- How might tungsten assay results influence Stelar Metals’ development timeline?
- Could the Hill of Leaders project become a key player amid tightening global tungsten supply?