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- Nova Minerals (NVA) commissions a sample crushing preparation lab at its flagship Estelle Gold Project in Alaska
- Last year Nova chose to construct its own sample preparation facility due to the extensive delays and slow turnaround times at labs around the world
- Nova is progressing drilling at various areas of the project, including at the Korbel Main deposit which will result in an updated resource estimate
- The newly commissioned lab is now fully operational and can process up to 7500 samples per month, which will allow Nova to advance exploration work
- Company shares are trading in the grey at 12 cents apiece at 12:35 pm AEST
Nova Minerals (NVA) has commissioned a sample crushing preparation lab at its flagship Estelle Gold Project in Alaska.
In 2020, Nova chose to build its own facility to prepare samples due to the extensive delays that were, and still are, occurring globally.
Being able to crush and assay samples onsite will decrease the turnaround time and give Nova Minerals the flexibility to bypass the city of Fairbanks for crushing and send the samples straight to Reno or Vancouver for pulverisation.
CEO Christopher Gerteisen said the lab would support its medium-term goals of completing a scoping study and delivering updated mineral resource estimates.
“As we continue to advance and increase the Korbel Main deposit both in size and confidence, hoping to release a resource update and a maiden resource for RPM in quarter four, this purpose-built sample preparation laboratory on site will reduce costs significantly,” Mr Gerteisen said.
“The regional recon exploration teams are now being mobilised to continue to advance the other high-priority targets across the project area as part of our mission to unlock the district and develop a pipeline of deposits.”
In line with strict quality assurance procedures, Nova has decided to retain an independent contractor to operate the lab and maintain independence of results from all its programs. According to the company, outsourcing this work ensures a supply of well-trained staff who are experienced in preparing samples for assaying.
The onsite laboratory is now fully operational and has the capacity to process up to 7500 samples per month.
This comes at a crucial time when Nova has a number of programs in the pipeline. The Alaskan explorer is currently progressing infill and extensional drilling at the Korbel Main deposit to increase the existing 4.7-million ounce resource and advance feasibility studies.
The company is also drilling the RPM prospects and will soon begin field reconnaissance work at other targets. To support these programs, Nova has ordered a fifth drill rig, which is expected onsite in the coming weeks.
The newly commissioned lab will be able fast-track samples as they come through the core logging facility.
Company shares were trading in the grey at 12 cents apiece at 12:35 pm AEST.
