Nova Minerals Ltd (ASX:NVA, NASDAQ:NVA, OTC:NVAAF)’s Estelle starter antimony operations and associated downstream refinery at the deep-water Port Mackenzie, Alaska, is about to be stacked with critical mining and processing equipment, with the company now starting procurement. All equipment is scheduled for delivery in the coming months, ahead of transport to site via the snow road in January 2026, with first production of military-grade antimony trisulfide targeted for 2026/27.
The initial purchasing program includes two ore sorters, following test work that demonstrated strong potential for on-site recovery and upgrading of antimony ore. A 500-kilogram Styx sample achieved 60.3% antimony recovery in 26.1% of the mass from a single pass, lifting feed grade from 15.2% to 35.2% Sb—a 2.3-fold improvement.
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One sorter will be installed at the Whiskey Bravo camp to process stibnite ore stockpiled during the current field season, producing a concentrate suitable for the Port Mackenzie refinery. The second will be located at the proposed refinery site to potentially upgrade feedstock sourced from third-party offtake partners now under discussion.
“Nova is rapidly progressing to become a fully-integrated domestic producer of military-grade antimony. As a leader in this critical sector, we are laser-focused on securing a robust domestic supply chain for this vital defence material,” Nova CEO Christopher Gerteisen said.
“Fuelled by a non-dilutive US$43.4 million award from the US Department of War, we are currently procuring mining and processing equipment set for delivery in January 2026. We’re currently ahead of schedule, moving towards first production by 2026/27 with urgency.
“These assets allow us to begin processing stibnite stockpiles from Estelle into high-value concentrate with further refining at our Port Mackenzie facility. Bolstered by Port Mac district commercial industrial-zoned land, unwavering federal, state and local government support, and surging demand from partners offering us further feedstock, Nova is poised to dominate as the nation’s premier antimony producer.”
Aiming to generate near-term antimony output
Broader procurement is progressing in parallel. Nova has secured a mine fleet for on-site operations, a crusher and screening plant, and is advancing orders for a mill and flotation and gravity circuits to round out the flowsheet. Delivery sequencing is aligned with the logistics window provided by the winter road, positioning the company to begin commissioning steps ahead of the 2026/27 production timetable.
Crush/screen plant.
Front End Engineering Design and logistics studies are nearing completion and will define key operating parameters for both the mine and refinery. The workstream is coordinated with the company’s non-dilutive US$43.4 million award from the US Department of War, which is aimed at accelerating domestic antimony production. Together with A$17.5 million in cash and roughly A$3.3 million in liquid investments and in-the-money warrants as at 30 September 2025, Nova reports access to more than A$86.3 million to execute its development plan while continuing gold programs at Estelle.
Operationally, Nova intends to use on-site sorting and concentration circuits to generate near-term antimony output from existing stibnite stockpiles. The company also continues to receive approaches from other antimony projects regarding potential offtake agreements to supplement Estelle feed, with discussions including Adelong Gold (ASX: ADG).
With key equipment locked in for near-term delivery, industrial land and infrastructure at Port Mackenzie, and supportive US policy settings, Nova is positioning itself as an emerging, fully integrated US antimony producer spanning mine, concentrator and refinery. Meanwhile, the 2025 drilling and surface sampling programs have concluded, with assays pending.
An updated Mineral Resource Estimate will start once results are received, aimed at further expanding and defining Estelle’s multi-million-ounce gold resource base.