Nova Minerals Limited (“Nova” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: NVA) (ASX:
NVA) (FRA: QM3) is pleased to announce gold rock chip assay results
from its 2024 exploration season confirming an extensive 800m long
by 400m wide gold and 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
- Assay results for gold on the rock
chip samples taken as part of the 2024 follow-up reconnaissance
mapping and sampling program has now proven that the Stibium
prospect is an extensive gold and antimony rich
zone with grades up to 141 g/t Au and 60.5%
Sb (ASX Announcement: 10 October 2023).
- Seven samples greater than 20 g/t Au, and 16
samples greater than 5 g/t Au.
- Best 2024 rock sampling results for
gold at Stibium include (Table 1 and Figure 1):
- 141.0 g/t Au
- 64.7 g/t Au
- 62.3 g/t Au
- 42.8 g/t Au
- 34.8 g/t Au
- 29.1 g/t Au
- 22.3 g/t Au
- Best 2024 rock sampling results for
antimony previously reported at Stibium include (ASX Announcement:
20 November 2024 and Figure 2):
- 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 up to 12.7 g/t
Au and 60.5% (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.
- Awaiting
further 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 CEO, Mr Christopher Gerteisen
commented: “We are delighted to now report both high-grade
antimony and gold at the Stibium prospect. Both antimony and gold
are currently at record high prices and continuing on a clear
upward trajectory, potentially marking the beginnings of a bull
market for both. This is an exciting time for the Company with the
Estelle Gold and Critical Minerals project in the right place, at
the right time, with the right commodities.”
Nova Head of Exploration, Mr Hans
Hoffman commented: “As we have stated in the past, we were
looking for gold and the antimony found us, but in the case with
Stibium in 2024, we were delineating the impressive antimony
discovery from 2023, and it looks like the gold found us. These
high-grade gold and antimony values occur over approximately 200m
of vertical relief which makes Stibium a top drill target for
2025.”
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 3).
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).
- 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 (ASX Announcement: 5 December 2024), and
Assay results for gold from rock samples
collected at the Stibium prospect have now been received and show
the previously identified 800m long by 400m wide zone is rich in
both gold and antimony with gold results of up to 141 g/t Au and
seven samples greater than 20 g/t Au, 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 gold rock sample results
(2023 sampling shown as transparent)
Figure 2. Stibium antimony rock sample results
(2023 sampling shown as transparent)
Figure 3. 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 in 2024 which specifically
targeted gold and stibnite, which is the primary ore source for
antimony. A total of 80 rock samples were collected, 7 of which
were greater than 20 g/t Au, including a high of 141 g/t Au. 180
soil samples were also collected from the area, with assay results
still outstanding for both gold and antimony. 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 gold and
antimony grades in all rock samples greater than 5 g/t Au..
Sample ID |
Sub-type |
Au g/t |
Sb % |
Easting |
Northing |
E406672 |
Outcrop vein |
141.0 |
0.7 |
512316 |
6869995 |
E406925 |
Outcrop vein |
64.7 |
0.6 |
512421 |
6869953 |
E406780 |
Outcrop vein |
62.3 |
0.0 |
512448 |
6869828 |
E406902 |
Sub-crop vein |
42.8 |
0.2 |
512410 |
6869970 |
E406910 |
Sub-crop vein |
34.8 |
0.1 |
512499 |
6870171 |
E406923 |
Outcrop vein |
29.1 |
0.0 |
512456 |
6869843 |
E406901 |
Composite chip |
22.3 |
0.0 |
512413 |
6869965 |
E406779 |
Talus high-grade |
18.1 |
0.6 |
512468 |
6869843 |
E406756 |
Composite chip |
17.6 |
0.1 |
512416 |
6869950 |
E406762 |
Composite chip |
17.4 |
0.0 |
512416 |
6869956 |
E406760 |
Composite chip |
16.3 |
2.0 |
512416 |
6869954 |
E406926 |
Outcrop high-grade |
12.9 |
2.8 |
512415 |
6869958 |
E406761 |
Composite chip |
8.7 |
0.1 |
512416 |
6869955 |
E406758 |
Composite chip |
8.0 |
2.0 |
512416 |
6869952 |
E406807 |
Float high-grade |
5.6 |
54.8 |
512554 |
6870099 |
E406763 |
Outcrop vein |
5.3 |
0.5 |
512414 |
6869959 |
Table 1. Top gold rock sample results at
Stibium
A 2,500kg bulk sample was collected at the
location of the inset shown in Figures 1 and 2 above (ASX
Announcement: 10 September 2024 and 5 December 2024). This sample
was collected in a hydrothermal breccia hosted in hornfels near the
contact with a quartz diorite. A total of 8 rock chip samples were
collected over a 3.5m wide zone which is representative of the bulk
sample material (Insets in Figures 1 and 2, and Figure 3) returning
a high of 17.6 g/t Au with an average composite grade of 10.3 g/t
Au and 0.5% Sb, as evidenced in Table 2 below. It should be noted
that the location for the bulk sample was selected from geological
observations indicating the coincidence of antimony with high-grade
gold which has been proven in the assay results. Zones of more
intense Stibnite veining yielding significantly higher antimony
grades up to 56.7% Sb were later identified across the prospect
area (Figure 2). The company plans to collect further bulk samples
from these additional high-grade antimony zones.
Sample ID |
Easting |
Northing |
From |
To |
Au g/t |
Sb % |
E406755 |
512416 |
6869949 |
0.0 |
0.6 |
0.1 |
0.2 |
E406756 |
512416 |
6869950 |
0.6 |
1.1 |
17.6 |
0.1 |
E406757 |
512416 |
6869951 |
1.1 |
1.4 |
1.3 |
0.1 |
E406758 |
512416 |
6869952 |
1.4 |
1.6 |
8.0 |
2.0 |
E406759 |
512416 |
6869953 |
1.6 |
1.8 |
3.2 |
0.8 |
E406760 |
512416 |
6869954 |
1.8 |
2.3 |
16.3 |
2.0 |
E406761 |
512416 |
6869955 |
2.3 |
2.8 |
8.7 |
0.1 |
E406762 |
512416 |
6869956 |
2.8 |
3.5 |
17.4 |
0.0 |
Table 2. Stibium composite chip sample results
– 3.5m at 10.3 g/t Au and 0.5%Sb
Figure 4. Stibium composite chip and bulk
sample location – 3.5m at 10.3 g/t Au and 0.5%Sb
Sample E406756 (17.6 g/t Au) was the second
sample collected in the composite chip sample through the
hydrothermal breccia zone shown above. Figure 5 below shows a
similar style of mineralization found 130 meters to the south in
samples E406779 (18.1 g/t Au, 0.6% Sb) and E406780 (62.3 g/t Au).
Mapping the extent of the hydrothermal breccia was difficult due to
the nature of the terrain, but 2025 drilling will seek to intercept
these gold-rich structures.
Figure 5. Samples E406756
(17.6 g/t Au, 0.1% Sb), E406779 (18.1 g/t
Au, 0.6% Sb) and E406780 (62.3 g/t
Au)
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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