Stelar Metals Limited (SLB) has secured environmental license approval to begin its first-ever reverse circulation drilling program at the Hill of Leaders project in the Northern Territory. The company plans to deploy a rig in August 2026 to execute a 3,000-metre campaign designed to test the grade and vertical continuity of the tungsten-bearing system beneath extensive surface mineralisation.

The upcoming drilling follows a rapid exploration phase since the project’s acquisition, which included geological mapping and ultra-high definition geophysical surveys. These efforts identified multiple subparallel, stacked quartz veins and altered granite zones across a 2-kilometre strike length. Previous surface rock chip sampling at the site has returned high-grade assays, including results as high as 6.1% WO₃, alongside detectable concentrations of molybdenum, bismuth, and copper.

"Receiving this drilling approval is the green light our team has been working towards since the day we acquired Hill of Leaders. In a matter of months we have gone from acquisition to a widespread high-grade tungsten discovery at surface, to receiving environmental license for our maiden drill program. That is a remarkable pace of execution by any measure." — Stephen Biggins, Executive Chair

The Phase 1 program will focus on three distinct sections of the property. This drilling represents the first comprehensive, deep-testing of the mineralised field in its 75-year history. While historical shallow aircore work provided limited insights into the near-surface environment, the current program is intended to provide a definitive assessment of the system's architecture at depth.

The project is located approximately 80 kilometres from Tennant Creek. By targeting tungsten, the company is positioning itself to contribute to a critical minerals segment currently facing structural supply challenges, including international export restrictions. The upcoming mobilisation in August marks a key operational milestone for the developer as it moves from surface reconnaissance to evaluating the potential scale of the subsurface mineralisation.

The company’s drill targeting strategy relies on the integration of its recent airborne survey data with mapping results. By identifying subtle alteration patterns and subsurface structures that correlate with known high-grade veins, the team expects to refine its approach to testing the system's internal continuity. This systematic technical validation aims to determine if the substantial surface footprint corresponds to an economically significant deposit, with findings from the 3,000-metre program expected to establish the foundation for future development activity at the project site.

Read the full announcement: Approval for Maiden Tungsten Drill Program - Hill of Leaders