Stelar Metals Limited has commenced its first regional-scale soil geochemical survey at the Hill of Leaders Tungsten Project in the Northern Territory.

The systematic sampling program covers approximately 50 square kilometres on a 200-metre by 200-metre grid, with closer 100-metre by 200-metre spacing around historic tungsten mine workings. The survey aims to collect about 1,300 samples to test the granite terrain, which extends over tens of kilometres within the project area.

Stelar acquired the Hill of Leaders Tungsten Project in May 2026 and subsequently secured environmental licence approval and an Authority Certificate from the Aboriginal Areas Protection Authority. To fund field activities and drilling across the asset, the company raised approximately A$2.6 million in August 2026 through the issuance of 13,141,421 ordinary shares at an issue price of $0.20 per share.

“Almost everything we know about Hill of Leaders has come from rocks we can see. That tells us the grades here are exceptional, but it cannot tell us how big the system is.”

“We are dealing with granites measured in tens of kilometres, and this will be the first time anyone has sampled soils geochemistry across the area systematically. It will tell us whether we have a series of occurrences or something considerably larger.”

— Stephen Biggins, Executive Chairman

Stelar's maiden 3,500-metre reverse circulation drilling program at the project is scheduled to commence in the next couple of weeks. Results from the ongoing soil survey are expected to arrive after drilling begins, providing data to generate targets for subsequent phases of work.

Meanwhile, Sabre Resources Limited completed a 4,000 square kilometre tenement acquisition and commenced a maiden drilling program at its Kurundi North project within the surrounding district.

Drilling across the wider regional corridor follows heightened exploration activity throughout the Northern Territory mineral field as companies advance new targets.

Read the full announcement: Inaugural Soil Geochemical Survey Commences at HOL