Stelar Metals Identifies New Tungsten Targets From Ultra-HD Airborne Survey
Stelar Metals sharpens tungsten drill targets after ultra-high-definition survey delivers standout results
Stelar Metals (ASX:SLB) has completed its ultra-high-definition airborne survey at its flagship Hill of Leaders Tungsten Project in the Northern Territory, with results revealing new drill targets. The survey has exposed subtle structures and alteration zones invisible in historical data — the exact settings that host known tungsten-rich veins at Hill of Leaders. AI-powered processing is now refining targets ahead of an RC drilling programme starting in coming weeks, announced on 22 July 2026.
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What the ultra-high-definition survey revealed
The UHD survey has detected multiple structures not visible in the best-available historical airborne data. Preliminary images show subtle fault zones and alteration patterns that previous surveys simply could not resolve, despite historical data being considered detailed by conventional standards.
The standout finding centres on magnetic data detecting structures in areas where the Hill of Leaders Granite is obscured by shallow cover — zones subject to little historical exploration. These covered areas now represent fresh exploration targets, expanding the drill footprint beyond outcropping granite zones.
| Parameter | Historical Survey | Stelar UHD Survey | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Line Spacing | Coarser (not specified) | 25 metres | Higher resolution structural detection |
| Flight Height | Higher altitude | 30 metres | Closer proximity captures finer detail |
| Magnetic Data Spacing | Wider intervals | Circa 3.5 metres | Ultra-high-resolution targeting |
| Radiometric Data Spacing | Wider intervals | Circa 35 metres | Maps alteration zones hosting mineralisation |
| Structures Visible | Few identifiable targets | Multiple new targets | Expands drill pipeline |
The technical detail behind the survey
The survey was flown using a MagSpec fixed-wing Cessna 210 platform during Q3 2026. Key technical specifications include:
- Geometrics cesium vapour sensor with 0.001 nT resolution, 0.01 nT sensitivity, operating at 20Hz sample rate
- RSI spectrometer recording over 1024 channels with 32-litre crystal pack, operating at 2Hz
- Tie lines flown at 250 metre intervals perpendicular to the main survey grid
- Grid system: MGA_GDA94 zone 53
- Flight lines oriented north-south, perpendicular to dominant geological strike, ensuring unbiased structural detection
Elevation data were recorded using a Novotel DGPS receiver. Pre- and post-flight calibration data were tabulated and reviewed.
Why tungsten targeting matters to investors
Tungsten at Hill of Leaders is vein-hosted, occupying subtle structures and faults within the Hill of Leaders Granite. Locating these structures before drilling is a pre-cursor exploration procedure to optimise drill site selection, improving the probability of intersecting high-grade mineralisation.
Tungsten is classified as a critical mineral, with increasing global demand driven by its role in enabling net-zero emissions technologies. The Hill of Leaders Project sits within an established Northern Territory tungsten region, alongside the Hatches Creek deposit (ASX:TGN) and the Molyhil deposit (ASX:TVN), positioning Stelar in a district with proven tungsten endowment.
Executive Chair Stephen Biggins
“This new ultra-high-definition data has delivered exactly what we needed. By applying AI-powered processing to this exceptional imagery, we are identifying subtle, tungsten-bearing structures that previous explorers simply couldn’t see. We now have a robust, data-backed pipeline of targets ready to test in our upcoming drill campaign.”
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What comes next: RC drilling and the road ahead
Stelar is now advancing AI-powered interpretation of the preliminary magnetic and radiometric data. Final datasets are expected imminently and will be used to vector specific drill targets, particularly where structures extend from granite outcrop into shallow-cover areas.
The pathway to drilling follows a clear sequence:
- UHD survey completed (done)
- AI-powered processing to define specific targets (in progress)
- Final magnetic and radiometric data delivery (imminent)
- RC drilling programme commences (coming weeks)
The RC drilling programme is scheduled to commence in coming weeks, providing investors with a near-term catalyst as the company moves from geophysical targeting to drill-testing.
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