Nova Minerals Completes 1.5 Million Pound Ice Road Campaign Under US$43M Grant
Nova Minerals transported 1.5 million pounds of mining and processing equipment—including 100,000-pound units—to its Estelle Project in Alaska under a US$43 million Department of War grant for phase one antimony operations. It now aims to start antimony trisulfide production by late 2026–early 2027, six to nine months ahead of plan.
1. Freight Campaign Completion
Nova Minerals completed its largest ice road season at the Estelle Project, moving over 1.5 million pounds of mining and processing equipment to site. Heavy modules weighing up to 100,000 pounds crossed ice bridges up to six feet thick, enabling uninterrupted delivery during favorable winter conditions.
2. Department of War Grant Funds Phase One
A US$43 million Department of War grant awarded in 2025 fully funds phase one antimony operations, covering mobilization, equipment delivery and initial setup. This funding removes near-term financing risk and positions the company for seamless ramp-up to production.
3. Accelerated Production Timeline
Management now targets military-grade antimony trisulfide production by late 2026 or early 2027, potentially six to nine months ahead of the original schedule. Early output could enable Nova Minerals to capture strategic critical minerals markets sooner and accelerate revenue generation.
4. Plans for Phase Two and Gold Drilling
Looking beyond phase one, Nova Minerals plans a larger second phase to expand mining and construct a full-scale antimony refinery for products including antimony metal and trioxide. The company also intends to launch one of its largest drilling campaigns at the RPM gold deposit to advance precious metal resources.