Nova Minerals Limited (“Nova” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: NVA) (ASX:
NVA) (FRA: QM3) is pleased to announce antimony rock chip assay
results from its 2024 exploration season confirming an extensive
800m long by 400m wide antimony rich zone at its Stibium prospect,
within its over 500km2 flagship Estelle Gold and Critical Minerals
Project located in the Tintina Gold Belt in Alaska.
Highlights
- Follow-up
reconnaissance mapping and sampling has proven an extensive
antimony rich zone at Stibium with grades up to 56.7% Sb.
- Best 2024 rock sampling results at
Stibium include (Table 1 and Figures 1, 4 and 5):
- 56.7% Sb
- 55.7% Sb
- 54.8% Sb
- 54.5% Sb
- 46.2% Sb
- 45.9% Sb
- 43.3% Sb
- Samples from
the initial discovery in 2023 measured 60.5% and
2.1% Sb (ASX Announcement: 10 October 2023).
- The Stibium
occurrence is hosted in quartz diorite intrusive rocks and hornfels
sedimentary rock over an approximately 800m long by 400m wide zone,
and remains open.
- A 2,500kg bulk
sample was collected for metallurgical test work.
- Awaiting
further antimony soil and gold rock and soil sample assay results
for Stibium.
- Results
incoming on the remainder of the 2024 sampling, including further
regional exploration from the broader RPM and Stoney areas.
- Nova Minerals,
through our 100% owned subsidiary Alaska Range Resources LLC, is a
member of the Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC), and as an
early mover is well advanced with the Dept of Defense (DoD) grant
application process.
- Antimony is
listed as a critical and strategic mineral to US economic and
national security interests by the US Department of Interior. The
European Union also has antimony on their critical materials list
and both are 100% import reliant.
- China, which
produces ~54% of the worlds antimony, recently banned all exports
of the critical mineral to the US (See news article here).
Nova CEO, Mr Christopher Gerteisen
commented: “With these results we begin to appreciate the
potential size and tenor of the impressive antimony discovery at
the Stibium prospect. We also anxiously await the 2024 gold results
which have previously delivered up to 12.7 g/t Au (ASX Announcement
10 October 2023). These results show Stibium to be an exceptional
high grade antimony-gold drill ready prospect that the Company will
prioritize moving forward and advance towards resource definition
to continue to increase and prove-up the total resource inventory
across the Estelle Gold and Critical Minerals Project, which
already includes the high-grade RPM gold deposit and the bulk
tonnage Korbel gold deposit. The company is now well advanced with
its applications towards US government grant funding in pursuit of
these efforts.”
Nova Head of Exploration, Mr Hans
Hoffman commented: “As mentioned earlier this year, our
field crews hit Stibium with intensity this season – collecting 80
rock samples and 180 soil samples. Our primary objective was to
delineate the anomaly from 2023. I feel like we located the heart
of it, but mineralization likely extends to the north and the
south.”
2024 Exploration Mapping and Sampling
Program Results
During the 2024 field season Nova’s Head of
Exploration, Mr. Hans Hoffman, continued the surface exploration
mapping and sampling program across the Estelle claim block with a
particular focus on following up results at prospects identified in
the 2023 season. 511 soil samples, 225 rock samples, and
approximately 5 tons of bulk sample material were collected across
the property (Figure 2).
As a result of that program, and reported to
date:
- Assay results from soil and rock
chip samples from the Styx prospect identified high-grade antimony
(Sb) and gold in outcrop, with grades up to 54.1% Sb and 9.8 g/t Au
(ASX Announcement: 22 November 2023).
- Assay results from soil and rock
chip samples collected from the Muddy Creek prospect, with a high
of 128.5 g/t Au, have extended the high-grade gold mineralization
zone by a further 400m to 800m in length now. Muddy Creek is
considered to be one of the most impressive gold anomalies on the
claim block to date (ASX Announcement: 27 November 2024), and
Assay results for antimony from rock samples
collected at the Stibium prospect have been received and identified
an 800m long by 400m wide antimony rich zone with results of up to
56.7% Sb and 11 samples grading > 30% Sb, as reported in this
announcement.
Further results from the soil and rock chip
samples taken from across the project area in 2024 will be reported
once received and processed.
Figure 1. Stibium antimony rock
sample results (2023 sampling shown as transparent)
Figure 2. Estelle property map showing the
sampling program undertaken in 2024
Stibium Surface Sampling
Field crews conducted an extensive surface
sampling program over the Stibium area this year which for the
first time also specifically targeted stibnite, which is the
primary ore source for antimony. A total of 80 rock samples were
collected, 11 of which were greater than 30% Sb, including a high
of 56.7% Sb. 180 soil samples were also collected from the area,
with assay results for antimony soil and gold rock and soil samples
from Stibium still outstanding. The Stibium occurrence is hosted in
quartz diorite intrusive rocks and hornfels sedimentary rock over
an approximately 800m long by 400m wide zone, and remains open.
Table 1 provides a summary of the antimony
grades in all rock samples greater than 1% Sb.
Sample ID |
Sub-type |
Sb_% |
Easting |
Northing |
E406754 |
Talus high-grade |
56.7 |
512366 |
6870100 |
E406765 |
Talus vein |
55.7 |
512536 |
6870064 |
E406807 |
Float high-grade |
54.8 |
512554 |
6870099 |
E406774 |
Outcrop vein |
54.5 |
512605 |
6870119 |
E406929 |
Talus high-grade |
46.2 |
512498 |
6870230 |
E406767 |
Sub-crop vein |
45.9 |
512531 |
6870080 |
E406933 |
Talus high-grade |
43.3 |
512494 |
6870221 |
E406930 |
Talus vein |
35.3 |
512497 |
6870226 |
E406932 |
Talus high-grade |
34.9 |
512494 |
6870234 |
E406769 |
Sub-crop vein |
32.7 |
512595 |
6870114 |
E406918 |
Talus high-grade |
32.6 |
512329 |
6870394 |
E406768 |
Sub-crop vein |
19.3 |
512522 |
6870079 |
E406806 |
Sub-crop high-grade |
19.1 |
512527 |
6870071 |
E406766 |
Sub-crop vein |
4.3 |
512540 |
6870063 |
E406926 |
Outcrop high-grade |
2.8 |
512415 |
6869958 |
E406758 |
Composite chip |
2.0 |
512416 |
6869952 |
E406760 |
Composite chip |
2.0 |
512416 |
6869954 |
Table 1. Top antimony rock sample results at
Stibium
A 2,500kg bulk sample was also collected at the
location of the inset shown in Figure 1 above (ASX Announcement: 10
September 2024). This sample was collected in a hydrothermal
breccia hosted in hornfels near the contact with a quartz diorite.
The bulk sample location didn’t exhibit the thick high-grade veins
found in outcrop and talus above, but more fine-grained
disseminated sulfides and patchy stibnite. A composite chip sample
was collected across this zone prior to bulk sampling, with those
grades average 0.5% Sb, as evidenced in Table 2 below.
Sample ID |
Easting |
Northing |
From |
To |
Sb_% |
Sb_ppm |
E406755 |
512416 |
6869949 |
0.0 |
0.6 |
|
1505 |
E406756 |
512416 |
6869950 |
0.6 |
1.1 |
|
829 |
E406757 |
512416 |
6869951 |
1.1 |
1.4 |
|
908 |
E406758 |
512416 |
6869952 |
1.4 |
1.6 |
2.0 |
19900 |
E406759 |
512416 |
6869953 |
1.6 |
1.8 |
|
8170 |
E406760 |
512416 |
6869954 |
1.8 |
2.3 |
2.0 |
19500 |
E406761 |
512416 |
6869955 |
2.3 |
2.8 |
|
569 |
E406762 |
512416 |
6869956 |
2.8 |
3.5 |
|
243 |
Table 2. Stibium composite chip sample results
– 3.5m at 0.5%Sb
Figure 3. Stibium Composite Chip Sample
Location – 3.5m at 0.5%Sb
Sample E406941 had the highest antimony content
at 54.1%. As shown in Figure 3, it exhibits well-developed crystals
with shiny metallic luster. This sample was from a newly discovered
outcropping quartz vein located approximately 130 meters southwest
and 100 meters in elevation below the main occurrence. This may be
an extension of the main occurrence, but is difficult to determine
due to the undulating nature of both the veins (Figure 5).
As evidenced in Figure 1 and on Table 2, there
were some very high-grade antimony veins located throughout the
prospect. Sample E406765 (55.7% Sb) was a talus vein sample that
led to the discovery of numerous outcrop/sub-crop samples directly
above ranging from 19% Sb to 46% Sb. Figure 4 below shows the
radiating needles indicative of antimony bearing stibnite.
Figure 4. Samples E406765
(55.7% Sb) and E406767 (45.9%
Sb)
Sample E406774 was a sample of a 5cm thick
anastomosing stibnite vein hosted in quartz diorite showing well
developed needles in Figure 5 below.
Figure 5. Sample E406774 (54.5%
Sb)
Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) Membership and
Grant Application Progress
Nova Minerals, through our 100% owned subsidiary
Alaska Range Resources LLC, has been a member of the DIBC for over
6 months and has positively progressed with the resources and
synergies it provides. The DIBC enables rapid research, access to
commercial solutions for defense requirements, and innovations from
industry, academia, and non-traditional contractors. DIBC members
focus on identifying, developing, and testing cutting-edge
capabilities at the speed of innovation.
Recognizing the potential of its antimony
discovery early on, Nova is a first mover in the space and now well
advanced within the Dept of Defense (DoD) grant application process
to potentially rapidly develop its antimony and other critical
minerals prospects identified across the Estelle Gold and Critical
Minerals District. The company looks forward to keeping the market
updated on this progress.
The 3D Vrify decks on the company’s website will
be updated with the 2024 surface sampling exploration results when
all the assays for the soil and rock chip samples taken across the
entire Estelle Gold and Critical Minerals Project have been
received back from the laboratory.
Qualified Persons
Vannu Khounphakdee, Professional Geologist and
member of Australian Institute of Geoscientists contracted by Nova
Minerals to provide geologic consulting services. Mr. Khounphakdee
holds a Master of Science in Mine Geology and Engineering. He is a
qualified person with at least 5 years experience with this type of
project. By reason of education, affiliation with a professional
association, and past relevant work experience, Mr. Khounphakdee
fulfills the requirements of Qualified Person (QP) for the purposes
of SEC Regulation SK-1300 for data QA/QC checks relevant to this
announcement.
Hans Hoffman is a State of Alaska Certified
Professional Geologist contracted by Nova Minerals to provide
geologic consulting services. Mr. Hoffman is a member of the
American Institute of Professional Geologists and holds a Bachelor
of Science degree in Geological Engineering with a double major in
Geology and Geophysics. He is a qualified person with at least 5
years of experience with these types of projects. By reason of
education, affiliation with a professional association, and past
relevant work experience, Mr. Hoffman fulfills the requirements of
Qualified Person (QP) for the purposes of SEC Regulation SK-1300
for the technical information presented in this announcement.
Christopher Gerteisen, Chief Executive Officer
of Nova Minerals, is a Professional Geologist and member of
Australian Institute of Geoscientists, and has supervised the
preparation of this news release and has reviewed and approved the
scientific and technical information contained herein. Mr.
Gerteisen is a "qualified person" for the purposes of SEC
Regulation S-K 1300.
About Nova Minerals Limited
Nova Minerals Limited is a Gold, Antimony
and Critical Minerals exploration and development company
focused on advancing the Estelle Project, comprised of
514 km2 of State of Alaska mining claims, which contains multiple
mining complexes across a 35 km long mineralized corridor of over
20 advanced Gold and Antimony prospects, including two already
defined multi-million ounce resources, and several drill ready
Antimony prospects with massive outcropping stibnite vein systems
observed at surface. The 85% owned project is located 150 km
northwest of Anchorage, Alaska, USA, in the prolific Tintina Gold
Belt, a province which hosts a >220 million ounce (Moz)
documented gold endowment and some of the world's largest gold
mines and discoveries including, Barrick's Donlin Creek Gold
Project and Kinross Gold Corporation's Fort Knox Gold Mine. The
belt also hosts significant Antimony deposits and was a historical
North American Antimony producer.
Further discussion and analysis of the Estelle
Gold Project is available through the interactive Vrify 3D
animations, presentations, and videos, all available on the
Company’s website. www.novaminerals.com.au
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking
statements” that are subject to substantial risks and
uncertainties. All statements, other than statements of historical
fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking
statements. Forward-looking statements contained in this press
release may be identified by the use of words such as “anticipate,”
“believe,” “contemplate,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,”
“seek,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,”
“target,” “aim,” “should,” "will” “would,” or the negative of these
words or other similar expressions, although not all
forward-looking statements contain these words. Forward-looking
statements are based on Nova Minerals Limited’s current
expectations and are subject to inherent uncertainties, risks and
assumptions that are difficult to predict. Further, certain
forward-looking statements are based on assumptions as to future
events that may not prove to be accurate. These and other risks and
uncertainties are described more fully in the section titled “Risk
Factors” in the final prospectus related to the public offering
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking
statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date,
and Nova Minerals Limited undertakes no duty to update such
information except as required under applicable law.
For Additional Information Please ContactCraig
BentleyDirector of Finance & Compliance & Investor
RelationsE: craig@novaminerals.com.auM: +61 414 714 196
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