Stelar Metals Uncovers New Tungsten Exploration Targets at Hill of Leaders via Ultra-High-Definition Airborne Survey

Ultra-High-Definition Airborne Survey Reveals Concealed Tungsten-Bearing Structures at Hill of Leaders

On 22 July 2026, Stelar Metals announced completion of its ultra-high-definition airborne survey at the Hill of Leaders Tungsten Project, delivering what the company describes as exceptional results. The survey employed a MagSpec fixed-wing Cessna 210 aircraft flying at a nominal altitude of 30 metres, with north-south traverses spaced 25 metres apart. Orthogonal tie lines were flown every 250 metres to ensure thorough coverage. This configuration significantly enhanced data resolution compared to all previous airborne surveys conducted over the project.

Preliminary data from the survey revealed multiple new exploration targets absent from the best-available historical airborne datasets. Comparative imagery included in the announcement highlights the Hill of Leaders mine area, where the new ultra-high-definition data exposes substantially more structural detail than earlier surveys. These newly identified structures are critical because tungsten mineralisation at Hill of Leaders occurs in vein sets hosted within subtle faults and structures in the Hill of Leaders Granite. The enhanced data quality enables precise location of these features, serving as a vital step to optimise drill site selection.

Magnetic Data Extends Exploration into Areas Covered by Shallow Regolith

A key advantage of the ultra-high-definition survey is its capacity to detect geological structures beneath shallow cover obscuring the Hill of Leaders Granite. This extends exploration beyond granite outcrop zones where historical efforts were concentrated. Magnetic data were acquired using a Geometrics cesium vapour sensor with a resolution of 0.001 nanotesla and sensitivity of 0.01 nanotesla, sampling at 20 hertz. This high-specification equipment delivers superior data quality compared to instruments used in prior regional surveys.

Detecting structures beneath shallow cover is especially valuable in the Northern Territory, where much terrain is blanketed by thin regolith and weathered material rather than exposed bedrock. Many prospective mineralised zones at Hill of Leaders had limited historical exploration due to this cover. The ultra-high-definition magnetic data now provide a robust tool to guide exploration into these previously under-explored areas with increased confidence, potentially unlocking new discovery opportunities.

AI-Driven Data Processing to Identify Precise Drill Targets

Stelar Metals is applying AI-powered algorithms to interpret the ultra-high-definition survey data to define specific drill targets for the forthcoming RC drilling program. Preliminary magnetic and radiometric data are being processed to highlight the most prospective structures and alteration zones, aiming to direct drilling to areas with the highest exploration potential. Radiometric data were collected over 1024 channels using an RSI spectrometer with a 32-litre crystal pack at a 2-hertz sample rate, providing detailed elemental composition and distribution information across the survey area.

Final processed magnetic and radiometric datasets are expected imminently, offering superior resolution for vectoring drill targets within identified structures. These datasets will guide the upcoming RC drilling campaign, scheduled to begin in the coming weeks. By leveraging advanced AI processing on the high-quality ultra-high-definition data, Stelar aims to optimise drill hole placement to test the most promising targets, enhancing exploration efficiency and the likelihood of intersecting significant tungsten mineralisation.

Focused Critical Minerals Exploration in Northern Territory with Experienced Team

Stelar Metals is committed to exploring and developing critical minerals amid rising global demand driven by the transition to net-zero emissions. Tungsten, a critical mineral with diverse industrial applications including high-temperature uses, wear-resistant coatings, and advanced manufacturing, is the focus at the Hill of Leaders Tungsten Project. Located in Australia's Northern Territory, the project represents a strategic critical minerals opportunity with significant scale potential. The company’s management team brings extensive discovery and development experience in the Northern Territory, leveraging local geological knowledge and operational expertise.

Global demand for critical minerals is expected to remain robust as governments and industries pursue decarbonisation and net-zero targets, driving demand for minerals used in renewable energy infrastructure, electric vehicles, and clean technologies. Stelar’s tungsten exploration at Hill of Leaders aligns with these long-term trends, positioning the company to advance toward potential development. The experienced exploration and development team aims to discover and produce tungsten and potentially other critical minerals from its Northern Territory assets.

Upcoming RC Drilling Program to Test Newly Identified Targets

The next exploration phase at Hill of Leaders involves an RC drilling program to test the new targets identified by the ultra-high-definition survey. Scheduled to commence in the coming weeks, this campaign will critically evaluate the geophysical interpretations and AI-driven target definitions. Drill results will provide direct geological data on the presence, geometry, and quality of tungsten mineralisation at these new targets, informing the project’s exploration potential.

The detailed targeting enabled by the ultra-high-definition data will enhance drilling efficiency. Instead of broad grid drilling typical of early-stage exploration, Stelar’s targeted approach focuses on specific structural and geophysical anomalies, allowing multiple high-priority prospects to be tested more effectively. Outcomes from this program will be pivotal in determining whether the new targets host economic tungsten mineralisation and if the Hill of Leaders Project has the scale and quality to support development.

Survey Methodology and High Data Quality Standards

The ultra-high-definition survey employed industry-standard equipment and protocols to maximise data quality and reliability. Magnetic and radiometric data were processed using established methods to generate final datasets suitable for detailed interpretation and target definition. Magnetic data were corrected to produce Total Magnetic Intensity measurements in nanotesla, standardising the dataset for interpretation. Radiometric data were smoothed using the NASVD method, enhancing data quality while preserving geological signals.

Elevation data were recorded using a Novotel DGPS receiver at a 1-hertz sample rate, ensuring precise positioning of geophysical measurements across the survey area. Accurate elevation data is essential for correct processing of airborne magnetic data, as terrain variations affect raw magnetic readings. The company’s announcement includes a Competent Person’s Statement confirming that exploration results are based on information compiled by Andrew Bennett, a Member of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy with relevant experience in vein-hosted tungsten mineralisation and exploration.

Historical Exploration and Mineralisation at Hill of Leaders Mines and Workings

The Hill of Leaders project area has a history of significant mining and exploration activity. Known tungsten-rich vein sets have been documented at historical mines and workings, occupying subtle structures and alteration zones within the Hill of Leaders Granite. These historical workings confirm the presence of economic tungsten mineralisation, supporting confidence in the geological setting’s potential. The new ultra-high-definition survey has revealed additional structures and alteration patterns not visible in previous airborne data accessible to earlier explorers.

The company notes that historical exploration results referenced were reported by previous owners in compliance with JORC Code 2012 standards. While Stelar Metals considers these historical data reliable for exploration targeting, they were not obtained, verified, or reported by Stelar. This disclosure aligns with JORC Code requirements for transparency regarding exploration information. The combination of historical tungsten mineralisation and new geophysical insights from the ultra-high-definition survey establishes a strong foundation for targeted modern exploration that could extend known mineralisation beyond historically mined zones.

Strategic Role in Global Critical Minerals Supply Chain

Stelar Metals’ focus on the Hill of Leaders Tungsten Project reflects growing industry and government efforts to secure critical mineral supply chains essential for the global energy transition. Tungsten is classified as a critical mineral by multiple governments due to its importance in industrial and advanced technology applications and the concentrated geography of global production. By exploring and developing tungsten assets in Australia—a stable, developed country with established mining and regulatory frameworks—Stelar aims to contribute to critical mineral supply security in a geopolitically favourable jurisdiction.

The company emphasizes that its experienced exploration and development team is targeting discovery and production of critical minerals amid rising global demand driven by net-zero emissions goals. This strategic positioning aligns Stelar with long-term supply-demand dynamics in the critical minerals sector, where government investment and policy support are expected to sustain demand for minerals used in clean technology, renewable energy, and advanced manufacturing. If developed, the Hill of Leaders project could enhance Australia’s critical mineral production and export capacity in a commodity sector where current domestic production is limited.