Nova Minerals Advances Alaska Gold and Critical Antimony Project with Defense Department Support

Nova Minerals Ltd. is advancing its Estelle Project in Alaska toward gold production while positioning itself as a key player in domestic antimony production, a critical mineral currently dominated by Russia and China. CEO Christopher Gerteisen revealed in a recent Benzinga interview that the company aims to bring gold to market next year while simultaneously developing antimony resources that have attracted significant interest from the U.S. Department of Defense.

The Estelle Project encompasses 514 km2 of Alaska mining claims containing multiple mining complexes across a 35 km long mineralized corridor. The site hosts over 20 advanced gold and antimony prospects, including two already defined multi-million ounce resources and several drill-ready antimony targets. The company has defined almost 10 million ounces of gold and is currently working on a feasibility study to advance development.

"Our objective is to get something out to market sometime next year on the gold side," Gerteisen stated during the Benzinga All Access interview. Beyond the two primary gold projects, Gerteisen noted there are twenty other prospects at the site where the company is observing gold, copper, silver and antimony mineralization.

The antimony component represents a particularly significant opportunity for Nova Minerals, given current geopolitical dynamics. Antimony is essential for "cleantech, greentech, hightech" applications and munitions production, yet no domestic production exists in the United States. Russia and China currently dominate global antimony production and have been restricting U.S. access, creating supply chain vulnerabilities that have heightened Defense Department interest in developing domestic sources.

"We've been a real first mover in bringing that production back to the U.S.," Gerteisen emphasized, revealing that the company is in advanced stages of securing a non-dilutive grant from the Department of Defense to fast-track antimony production. This government support underscores the strategic importance of developing domestic sources for critical minerals essential to both national security and emerging technologies.

The development of domestic antimony production carries significant implications for multiple sectors. For the defense industry, it reduces reliance on foreign suppliers for munitions components. For clean technology and high-tech manufacturing, it provides a secure supply chain for essential materials. The project's advancement also represents progress toward addressing broader concerns about U.S. dependence on foreign sources for critical minerals identified as essential to economic and national security.

As Nova Minerals moves forward with both gold and antimony development, the company's progress reflects growing recognition of the strategic importance of domestic mineral production. The combination of near-term gold production potential and long-term critical mineral development positions the project as addressing both immediate economic opportunities and longer-term national security concerns.