Novo Resources Corp (TSX:NVO, OTCQX:NSRPF, ASX:NVO) has kicked off a maiden reverse circulation (RC) drill program at its Sherlock Crossing gold-antimony prospect in Western Australia’s Pilbara, marking a key milestone in the company’s H2 2025 exploration push.
The program will test high-grade mineralisation at the historic Clarke Mine site, where previous Novo sampling returned assays of up to 4.7% antimony and 146.7 g/t gold.
Sherlock Crossing drill program under way
The RC campaign will comprise eight holes for around 1,000 metres across a 300-metre strike length. Novo is targeting down-dip continuity of high-grade veins mapped at surface, extensions of mineralisation to the north and south, and potential plunge controls of the mineralised system.
Sherlock Crossing, showing extended soil anomaly >10 ppm Sb to the SW of the proposed first pass drilling area at the Clarke Mine.
Drilling is scheduled for completion this month, with results expected in mid-October. The data will guide follow-up programs, particularly on a 1.5-kilometre-long antimony soil anomaly that extends south of historic workings.
“We’re incredibly excited to commence RC drilling at our Sherlock Crossing Project in the West Pilbara,” said Novo executive co-chairman and acting CEO Mike Spreadborough. “This marks a significant milestone in our exploration strategy, and we’re eager to test the high-grade Au-Sb mineralisation targets we've identified.
“Results from the drilling program will be used to guide subsequent programs at Sherlock Crossing, testing the extensive and coherent antimony soil anomaly extending over 1.5 kilometres in strike to the south of the historic mining activity,” he added. “The potential for significant discovery is driving our pursuit, and we look forward to sharing results as they come to hand.”
Wyloo project building momentum
Alongside Sherlock Crossing, Novo has advanced exploration at its Wyloo project in the South Pilbara. Recent mapping and rock chip sampling confirmed a coherent polymetallic vein array with strong antimony, silver, lead, zinc and gold values.
Wyloo tenure showing high order stream sediment antimony anomalies.
Peak rock chip assays included 482 g/t silver, 1.29% antimony, 0.93 g/t gold, 9.7% lead and 15.95% zinc. Heritage surveys are now being planned to enable a maiden RC drilling program at Wyloo in the December quarter.
Geological mapping and significant Sb and Ag rock chip results at the SE Wyloo prospect (results in grey previously reported)
Partnerships and other Pilbara projects
Novo’s joint venture partner Northern Star Resources Ltd (ASX:NST) has also commenced aircore drilling at the Farno JV area within the Egina project, targeting a structural zone in the north of the tenement.
At Balla Balla, Novo will follow up aircore drilling completed earlier this year that outlined polymetallic anomalies associated with the Sholl Shear Zone. Planned work includes spectral imaging and petrological studies ahead of potential extensional drilling.
NSW exploration in focus
In New South Wales, Novo continues to advance its farm-in projects. At the Tibooburra Gold Project, fieldwork is under way following a successful Clone RC program earlier in 2025 that delivered high-grade gold hits, including 12 metres at 5.9 g/t gold. Work includes downhole televiewer logging, relogging of historic core and detailed mapping to generate further drill targets.
Downhole surveying at the Clone Prospect.
Meanwhile, the John Bull Gold Project awaits final regulatory and landholder approvals ahead of an approximately 1,750-metre RC campaign set to begin in Q4 2025.
Busy second half ahead
Spreadborough said Novo was entering an active period across multiple fronts.
“Across our portfolio, we continue to strategically pursue prospects identified during our assessment of advanced gold and antimony targets conducted in the first half of 2025, such as at Wyloo in the South Pilbara and at Tibooburra in NSW,” he said.
“Novo is ready for a busy second half of exploration and is committed to keeping the market informed as drilling progresses.”
Novo Pilbara and Onslow District Tenure showing priority gold prospects.