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Nova Minerals Ltd Capital/Financing Update 2018

Jan 1, 2018

34115_rns_2018-01-01_8f7663c7-1de2-4794-8fae-b792f0b9d4e8.pdf

Capital/Financing Update

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NOVA MINERALS LIMITED

(ASX: NVA)

ASX and Media Release

2 January 2018

RESULTS SUPPORT POTENTIAL FOR KNOWN DYKE EXTENSIONS AND DISCOVERY OF NEW LITHIUM BEARING DYKES IN THOMPSON BROTHERS

The directors of Nova Minerals Limited ( Nova or Company ) (ASX: NVA) are pleased to provide an update on regional sampling activities at its Thompson Brothers Lithium Project in Manitoba Canada. Outcomes of recent geochemical sampling have identified a pipeline of exciting new Lithium exploration opportunities across the project area.

Results from all geochemical samples taken during 2017 have been received and modelling has defined additional lithium exploration targets and the potential to extend existing known deposits, unlocking a potentially new lithium system in the Snow Lake, Manitoba district (Figure 1).

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Figure 1. Possible dyke extensions and new dyke discoveries

Nova Minerals Ltd. Level 17, 500 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000. Phone: +61 3 9614 0600 Fax: + 61 3 9614 0550

A series of soil samples were taken on a grid approximately perpendicular to the strike of known lithium bearing pegmatites in the southern half of the Thompson Brothers project. Samples were spaced 25m apart across strike and 100m to 200m between lines. Initial sampling in the area of known pegmatite was spaced 100m apart to enable referencing of grades. Further sampling in the north was reduced to 200m spaced lines to manage expenditure and cover a greater amount of area in the limited weather window available before the onset of the winter snows. Approximately 100g of soil was taken for each sample from between 15cm and 20cm below surface where in-situ soils were intersected. Samples were then bagged and sent to ALS Vancouver for analysis using a sodium peroxide fusion followed by ICP-MS to determine grades.

Once all the results were received, the data was compiled and processed using square 2D cells and a circular search ellipse within an inverse distance algorithm to assign values into the colour map shown (Figure 1). This was done to minimise directional bias in the 2 dimensional estimation and allow natural trends in elevated mineral values to become evident.

The results show anomalism for LiO2% in a number of trends that both follow or continue on from known pegmatite dykes as well as indicate potentially new dykes in the north on a different orientation that are more closely aligned with dykes identified in the Far Resources tenements to the east.

Project Highlights

The Company remains optimistic for discovery of further lithium bearing pegmatite dykes in its Thompson Brothers project. The location of the Project gives it key competitive strengths over other potential lithium locations worldwide:

  •  High quality spodumene project strategically located in North America

  •  Proximity to major downstream lithium processing facilities

  •  Proximity to major US battery customers (GM, BMW, Nissan, Mercedes, Tesla, etc)

  •  Closely located to established low cost power infrastructure, within 1km

  •  Strong, large and low cost local workforce with experience in lithium sector

  •  Proximity to major transportation infrastructure including 11km to highway, 34km to rail and 11km from airport.

  •  Manitoba is a mining and development friendly state

Forthcoming Exploration Program

Based on these results combined with existing outcrop mapping, the company looks forward to extending the drilling previously announced to further advance the project. The drill holes will be planned with an initial focus on definition of likely extensions of the mineralised system to the north, the parallel northwest structure and subsequent drill targets from the geochemical sample program. The program ‘subject to final approvals’ is expected to commence during the current winter drilling season.

Strategy to Unlock Value for Shareholders

The Nova Minerals board are undergoing a strategic review in relation to its Thompson Brothers lithium project, consistent with its objective of maximising value for shareholders. The initiative focuses on the potential to capture currently unrecognised value in the project through a range of different corporate opportunities and working together with project partners.

The key driver of this initiative is to demonstrate and capture the significant valuation gap, which has arisen between the value attributed to Nova Minerals and its direct peers listed on the TSX and CSE.

Nova CEO, Avi Kimelman commented: “We are extremely pleased with results from the recent geochemical program which give us further targets to potentially grow our resource and now move the project into an advanced exploration phase. The historic resource is a small portion of our overall tenement package, and leaves considerable upside as we broaden our drill horizons and continue to expand our exploration program.

Given the numerous advantages inherent in our location in Manitoba, including outstanding infrastructure, a strong local work force, and proximity to important lithium processing facilities and other downstream customers, we are keen to advance the project with a view to establishing a potentially strategic high value long life battery materials operation to take advantage of the developing north American market.

Nova Minerals Ltd. Level 17, 500 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000. Phone: +61 3 9614 0600 Fax: + 61 3 9614 0550

In relation to our strategic review of the Thompson Brothers lithium project, the Nova Minerals board acknowledges the asset is undervalued in comparison to our neighbours and peer group listed on the TSX and CSE and is working through options available to unlock the inherent value in the project through this review ” process .

About Nova Minerals Limited (ASX: NVA):

Thompson Bros. Lithium Project

Nova Minerals Limited own the rights to earn up to 80% ownership interest of the Thompson Bros. Lithium Project from Ashburton Ventures Inc. by financing their commitments relating to their Option Agreement with Strider Resources Ltd.

The Thompson Bros. Lithium Project, located in Manitoba, Canada contains a historical (NON-JORC COMPLIANT) resource estimate of 4,305,000 tonnes of 1.3% Li2O, open at depth and along strike. These estimates are historical estimates and are not reported in accordance with the JORC Code. A competent person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimates as mineral resources and/or reserves in accordance with the JORC Code. It is uncertain that following evaluation and/or further exploration work that the historical estimates will be able to be reported as mineral resources or ore reserves in accordance with the JORC Code.

Alaskan Project Portfolio

Nova Minerals Limited own the rights to earn up to 85% ownership interest of the Alaskan Project Portfolio from AK Minerals Pty Ltd. by financing their commitments relating to their JV Agreement.

The Alaskan project portfolio range from more advanced exploration projects with ore grade drill intersections to brownfield tenements. The most advanced projects are the Estelle gold project, a district scale with potential high tonnage, gold, copper, silver project, the Chip-Loy nickel, cobalt, copper project, the Bowser creek silver, zinc, lead project which the US government has spent in excess of $7m on this project historically and the Windy Fork REE project.

Competent Persons Statement

The information in this report that relates to Exploration Results is based on information compiled by Mr Olaf Frederickson. Mr Frederickson is a Member of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) and has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which they are undertaking to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the Australasian Code for Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves (the “JORC Code”). Mr Frederickson is a non executive director of Nova Minerals Limited. Mr Frederickson consents to the inclusion in the report of the Exploration Results in the form and context in which they appear. Mr Frederickson holds shares in Nova Minerals Limited.

Nova Minerals Ltd. Level 17, 500 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000. Phone: +61 3 9614 0600 Fax: + 61 3 9614 0550

JORC Code, 2012 Edition – Table 1 report template

Section 1 Sampling Techniques and Data

(Criteria in this section apply to all succeeding sections .)

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary
Sampling
techniques
Nature and quality of sampling (eg cut
channels, random chips, or specific
specialised industry standard
measurement tools appropriate to the
minerals under investigation, such as
down hole gamma sondes, or handheld
XRF instruments, etc). These examples
should not be taken as limiting the
broad meaning of sampling.
Include reference to measures taken to
ensure sample representivity and the
appropriate calibration of any
measurement tools or systems used.
Aspects of the determination of
mineralisation that are Material to the
Public Report.
In cases where ‘industry standard’ work
has been done this would be relatively
simple (eg ‘reverse circulation drilling
was used to obtain 1 m samples from
which 3 kg was pulverised to produce a
30 g charge for fire assay’). In other
cases more explanation may be
required, such as where there is coarse
gold that has inherent sampling
problems. Unusual commodities or
mineralisation types (eg submarine
nodules) may warrant disclosure of
detailed information.
•Samples were taken as a series of soil
samples spaced 25m apart across strike
and 100m – 200m apart along strike.
•Each samples was taken from between
15cm and 20cm below surface with a
small hand held auger.
•The first auger cut from each hole was
discarded and the second or third cut
when soils were encountered was taken.
•Each sample was approximately 100
grams collected and labelled in a zip lock
plastic sample bag.
Drilling
techniques
Drill type (eg core, reverse circulation,
open-hole hammer, rotary air blast,
auger, Bangka, sonic, etc) and details
(eg core diameter, triple or standard
tube, depth of diamond tails, face-
sampling bit or other type, whether core
is oriented and if so, by what method,
_etc). _
•No drilling undertaken.
Drill sample
recovery
Method of recording and assessing
core and chip sample recoveries and
results assessed.
Measures taken to maximise sample
recovery and ensure representative
nature of the samples.
Whether a relationship exists between
sample recovery and grade and
whether sample bias may have
occurred due to preferential loss/gain of
fine/coarse material.
•Sample recovery by hand auger as
described above.

Nova Minerals Ltd. Level 17, 500 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000. Phone: +61 3 9614 0600 Fax: + 61 3 9614 0550

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary
Logging Whether core and chip samples have
been geologically and geotechnically
logged to a level of detail to support
appropriate Mineral Resource
estimation, mining studies and
metallurgical studies.
Whether logging is qualitative or
quantitative in nature. Core (or costean,
channel, etc) photography.
The total length and percentage of the
relevant intersections logged.
•No logging undertaken.
Sub-sampling
techniques
and sample
preparation
If core, whether cut or sawn and
whether quarter, half or all core taken.
If non-core, whether riffled, tube
sampled, rotary split, etc and whether
sampled wet or dry.
For all sample types, the nature, quality
and appropriateness of the sample
preparation technique.
Quality control procedures adopted for
all sub-sampling stages to maximise
representivity of samples.
Measures taken to ensure that the
sampling is representative of the in situ
material collected, including for
instance results for field
duplicate/second-half sampling.
Whether sample sizes are appropriate
to the grain size of the material being
sampled.
•No sub sampling undertaken.
Quality of
assay data
and
laboratory
tests
The nature, quality and
appropriateness of the assaying and
laboratory procedures used and
whether the technique is considered
partial or total.
For geophysical tools, spectrometers,
handheld XRF instruments, etc, the
parameters used in determining the
analysis including instrument make and
model, reading times, calibrations
factors applied and their derivation, etc.
Nature of quality control procedures
adopted (eg standards, blanks,
duplicates, external laboratory checks)
and whether acceptable levels of
accuracy (ie lack of bias) and precision
have been established.
•Assays carried out by ALS Vancouver.
•Samples were weighed, logged and
screened prior to analysis with super trace
multi element Sodium Peroxide Fusion
followed by ICP-MS.
•Lab method codes are Prep 41 for sample
prep and ME-MS89L for analysis.
Verification of
sampling and
assaying
The verification of significant
intersections by either independent or
alternative company personnel.
The use of twinned holes.
Documentation of primary data, data
entry procedures, data verification, data
storage (physical and electronic)
protocols.
Discuss any adjustment to assay data.
•No assay verification conducted other
than by standard lab QAQC protocols.

Nova Minerals Ltd. Level 17, 500 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000. Phone: +61 3 9614 0600 Fax: + 61 3 9614 0550

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary
Location of
data points
Accuracy and quality of surveys used
to locate drill holes (collar and down-
hole surveys), trenches, mine workings
and other locations used in Mineral
Resource estimation.
Specification of the grid system used.
Quality and adequacy of topographic
control.
•Data points recorded with hand held GPS.
Data spacing
and
distribution
Data spacing for reporting of
Exploration Results.
Whether the data spacing and
distribution is sufficient to establish the
degree of geological and grade
continuity appropriate for the Mineral
Resource and Ore Reserve estimation
procedure(s) and classifications
applied.
Whether sample compositing has been
applied.
•25m x 100m and 25m x 200m.
Orientation of
data in
relation to
geological
structure
Whether the orientation of sampling
achieves unbiased sampling of
possible structures and the extent to
which this is known, considering the
deposit type.
If the relationship between the drilling
orientation and the orientation of key
mineralised structures is considered to
have introduced a sampling bias, this
should be assessed and reported if
material.
•Sample lines orientated approximately
perpendicular to known pegmatite strike
at the southern end of the project.
Sample
security
The measures taken to ensure sample
security.
•Samples delivered to Gardewine freight
by a Nova geotechnician in Snow Lake
Manitoba.
•Gardewine delivered the samples to ALS
Yellowknife who then forwarded them
onto ALS Vancouver.
Audits or
reviews
The results of any audits or reviews of
sampling techniques and data.
•No audit or review conducted.

Section 2 Reporting of Exploration Results

(Criteria listed in the preceding section also apply to this section.)

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary
Mineral
tenement and
land tenure
status
Type, reference name/number, location
and ownership including agreements or
material issues with third parties such
as joint ventures, partnerships,
overriding royalties, native title
interests, historical sites, wilderness or
national park and environmental
settings.
The security of the tenure held at the
time of reporting along with any known
impediments to obtaining a licence to
operate in the area.
•The Thompson Brothers project is
contained within 14 granted exploration
Licence equivalents in Manitoba, Canada.
•Quantum Resources (now Nova Minerals)
acquired an 80% interest in the tenements
by meeting the tenement maintenance
expenditure for 4 years.
•The tenure is in good standing.

Nova Minerals Ltd. Level 17, 500 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000. Phone: +61 3 9614 0600 Fax: + 61 3 9614 0550

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary
Exploration
done by other
parties
Acknowledgment and appraisal of
exploration by other parties.
•Prior exploration for pegmatite was
carried out only in the southern part of the
tenement group which defined a pre-
JORC resources of 4.2Mt @ 1.3% Li2O
over an area exhibiting significant
pegmatite outcrop. Prior exploration in the
area had been predominantly for gold
although the majority of the tenure
appears to be unexplored. This was the
area over which the QUR soil sampleing
program was focused.
Geology Deposit type, geological setting and
style of mineralisation.
•Pegmatite dykes hosted within
metasediments, metaconglomerates and
pseudo granites.
Drill hole
Information
A summary of all information material
to the understanding of the exploration
results including a tabulation of the
following information for all Material drill
holes:
o easting and northing of the drill hole
collar
o elevation or RL (Reduced Level –
elevation above sea level in metres)
of the drill hole collar
o dip and azimuth of the hole
o down hole length and interception
depth
o hole length.
If the exclusion of this information is
justified on the basis that the
information is not Material and this
exclusion does not detract from the
understanding of the report, the
Competent Person should clearly
explain why this is the case.
•No drill holes undertaken
•See table for sample locations and assay
results.
Data
aggregation
methods
In reporting Exploration Results,
weighting averaging techniques,
maximum and/or minimum grade
truncations (eg cutting of high grades)
and cut-off grades are usually Material
and should be stated.
Where aggregate intercepts
incorporate short lengths of high grade
results and longer lengths of low grade
results, the procedure used for such
aggregation should be stated and some
typical examples of such aggregations
should be shown in detail.
The assumptions used for any
reporting of metal equivalent values
should be clearly stated.
•No data aggregation undertaken.
Relationship
between
mineralisation
widths and
intercept
lengths
These relationships are particularly
important in the reporting of Exploration
Results.
If the geometry of the mineralisation
with respect to the drill hole angle is
known, its nature should be reported.
•Not applicable.
•Samples were hand auger soil samples.

Nova Minerals Ltd. Level 17, 500 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000. Phone: +61 3 9614 0600 Fax: + 61 3 9614 0550

Criteria JORC Code explanation Commentary
If it is not known and only the down
hole lengths are reported, there should
be a clear statement to this effect (eg
‘down hole length, true width not
_known’). _
Diagrams Appropriate maps and sections (with
scales) and tabulations of intercepts
should be included for any significant
discovery being reported These should
include, but not be limited to a plan
view of drill hole collar locations and
appropriate sectional views.
•See attached Figures.
Balanced
reporting
Where comprehensive reporting of all
Exploration Results is not practicable,
representative reporting of both low
and high grades and/or widths should
be practiced to avoid misleading
reporting of Exploration Results.
•See table of assay data.
Other
substantive
exploration
data
Other exploration data, if meaningful
and material, should be reported
including (but not limited to): geological
observations; geophysical survey
results; geochemical survey results;
bulk samples – size and method of
treatment; metallurgical test results;
bulk density, groundwater, geotechnical
and rock characteristics; potential
deleterious or contaminating
substances.
•No other substantive data to report.
Further work The nature and scale of planned further
work (eg tests for lateral extensions or
depth extensions or large-scale step-
out drilling).
Diagrams clearly highlighting the areas
of possible extensions, including the
main geological interpretations and
future drilling areas, provided this
information is not commercially
sensitive.
•Further work will consist of drilling to
establish the depth and tenor of the
observed mineralisation at surface and to
follow up possible pegmatite extensions
and possible new pegmatite discoveries
indicated by soil geochemistry.

Nova Minerals Ltd. Level 17, 500 Collins Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000. Phone: +61 3 9614 0600 Fax: + 61 3 9614 0550