Nova Minerals Progresses to Antimony Processing Plant Construction as 2026 Estelle Field Season Concludes
Anchorage, Alaska, Oct. 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nova Minerals Corp (“Nova Minerals” or the “Company”) (NYSE American: NVA | ASX: NVA) is pleased to report all key plant equipment for its planned antimony processing and refinery operation arrived at Port MacKenzie, Alaska, on October 6, 2026.
The arrival of the final major pieces of equipment enables construction of the processing and refinery facility to begin in the coming weeks, subject to receipt of the remaining permits.
This represents another significant milestone in the Company’s plan to establish a secure, vertically integrated U.S. domestic antimony supply chain in Alaska, supported by a $43.4 million award from the U.S. Department of War (DoW).
The key equipment shipment arrives as the 2026 field season at the Estelle Critical Minerals and Gold Project draws to a close, with initial assay results expected in due course.
In parallel, construction continues to advance across key infrastructure projects at Estelle, including the Korbel Stibium access road and airstrip expansion.
Highlights
Nova CEO, Mr. Christopher Gerteisen, commented:
“This equipment delivery brings Nova Minerals a step closer to establishing a secure, vertically integrated antimony supply chain for the United States domestic market.
“The U.S Department of War has designated antimony as a strategic priority for national and economic security, due to its necessity in defense, energy storage, and advanced electronic applications.
“While our 2026 field season, supported by three diamond rigs operating from June through September, has now concluded, activity at both Estelle and Port MacKenzie is continuing at pace. Favorable fall conditions provide an ideal window for earthworks and construction, with these activities set to continue through the winter months.”
Port MacKenzie Antimony Processing and Refinery Facility
The remaining shipment of key ore processing and refining equipment included another 10 truckloads, and follows more than 40 containers that arrived by barge at Port MacKenzie on September 6.
Nova sourced modern processing and milling equipment from a recently decommissioned site in North America to accelerate construction and deliver meaningful cost savings, with first antimony expected in 2027.
Early earthworks are underway (Figure 2), with construction of the antimony processing facility, which is designed to process stibnite-bearing material and, initially, produce antimony metal and military grade trisulfide as part of the U.S. DoW project, to commence following receipt of final permits.
A modular design provides Nova with the flexibility to scale operations over time, and respond to evolving market requirements including building an integrated domestic antimony supply chain within the United States.
Estelle Site Infrastructure Construction
2026 Estelle Field Season Completed
In parallel to establishing the Port MacKenzie refinery, Nova’s 2026 field season at Estelle has concluded. Nova completed ~8,000m of drilling, with three diamond core rigs operating around the clock, seven days a week, between June and September to leverage the longer daylight hours over the Alaskan summer.
In parallel, the Company extracted 100 tons of antimony ore to provide initial feed material for downstream processing and refining at the Port MacKenzie plant once construction has been completed.
Figure 1. Ball mill delivered to Alaska
Figure 2. Port MacKenzie antimony processing plant site early earthworks
Figure 3. Korbel-Stibium access road construction works
Figure 4. Whiskey Bravo airstrip expansion construction works
About Nova Minerals Corp
Nova Minerals Corp is advancing one of the world’s largest undeveloped gold deposits into production and securing a US domestic supply of the critical mineral antimony. The Company is focused on the exploration and development of the Estelle Gold and Critical Minerals Project, located in Alaska, a tier-one mining jurisdiction.
Estelle hosts two defined multi-million-ounce gold resources, and more than 20 prospects distributed along a 35-kilometre mineralized trend, 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 Kinross Gold Corporation’s Fort Knox Gold Mine. In parallel, Nova is advancing its critical minerals strategy, fully-funded by a $43.4 million U.S. Department of War award to develop a domestic antimony supply chain, targeted for production in 2027.
Further discussion and analysis of the Estelle Project is available through the interactive Vrify 3D animations, presentations, and videos, all available on the Company’s website www.novamineralscorp.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Exchange Act which are subject to the “safe harbor” created by those sections. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this press release are forward-looking statements and that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties. 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 Corp’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. Forward-looking statements contained in this announcement are made as of this date, and Nova Minerals Corp undertakes no duty to update such information except as required under applicable law.
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