VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 17, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novo Resources Corp. (“ Novo ” or the “ Company ”) (TSX-V: NVO & NVO.WT; OTCQX: NSRPF) is pleased to provide an operational update from its Beatons Creek gold project (“ Beatons Creek ”) and Nullagine processing facility ( “Golden Eagle Mill” ).

Beatons Creek and Nullagine Gold Project Update:

Development at Beatons Creek and refurbishment at the Golden Eagle Mill continue to progress safely, on schedule and within budget. Recent key events and milestones include:
•Iron Mine Contracting Pty Ltd (“ IMCPL ”) has commenced ramping up activities from today;
•1 in 500 year rain event on Dec 11 th and 12 th (320mm in 48 hours) caused flooding in the town of Nullagine and some damage to the haulage route and communications. Site access and regional communications were re-established without impacting project schedule;
•Haulage of material to the Golden Eagle Mill will commence from 21 st December once the main Newman to Marble Bar road is satisfactorily repaired;
•As a result of the recent rain event, the site now has in excess of 6 months water supply in the Golden Eagle pit adjacent to the plant to complement the site borefield supply;
•Site is preparing for a scheduled holiday hiatus in processing plant construction activities from 22 nd December until 4 th January; and
•Site personnel (including contractors) now total 90.

Please see the Company’s news release dated December 8, 2020 for the Company’s previous operational update.

Development activities at Beatons Creek:
•IMCPL and Edwards Earthmoving P/L continuing with mining development works;
•IMCPL Mining equipment mobilized to site includes 1 x D10 dozer, 1 x PC850 excavator, CAT 740B watercart, 14M grader and 3 x CAT 745 trucks, with additional fleet scheduled to arrive within a week ( see figure 1 and figure 2 below );
•Lacy Contracting Services P/L are preparing to commence haulage from Beatons Creek to the Golden Eagle Mill from 21 st December;
•Grade control reverse circulation drilling by Castle Drilling continues on two shifts across the Edwards and Grant’s Hill areas, with this initial grade control program schedule for completion by 22 nd December;
•Beatons Creek ROM pad has been widened;
•Topsoil stripping of Grant’s Hill waste dump location has been completed; and
•Office buildings have been relocated from the Golden Eagle Mill to Beatons Creek ( see figure 3 below ).


Refurbishment works on the Golden Eagle Mill:

Plant refurbishment:
•The GR Engineering Services (“ GRES ”) scope currently stands at approximately 60% complete, with works continuing on schedule and within budget with no material issues or problems encountered thus far;
•Works continue with refurbished key componentry returning from Perth for installation – all continues according to schedule;
•Preparation and painting of the tanks will be completed prior to Christmas with only the inter-tank launders remaining to be painted in the first working week of January;
•Gravity section steelwork erection continues ahead of receipt and installation of the upgraded gravity circuit components;
•All long lead items have been ordered, with arrival dates remaining within the project schedule; and
•Commissioning planning is well advanced and on schedule.

Civil works:
•Foundations have now been completed for the upgraded Acacia reactor unit and new elution tank footings in the gold room.


Other major tenders:
•The permanent surface haulage contract package is currently out for tender, with solid progress being made with numerous other commercial agreements for fuel supply, processing reagents, and flights.


Novo CEO and director Rob Humphryson commented, “Despite the challenges created by some recent heavy rainfall, the project is tracking safely, within budget and to schedule. All contractors at the site continue to perform outstanding work and we thank them for their cooperative efforts.”

Dr. Quinton Hennigh (P.Geo.) is the qualified person pursuant to NI 43-101 responsible for, and having reviewed and approved, the technical information contained in this news release. Dr. Hennigh is President, Chairman, and a director of Novo.

About Novo Resources Corp.

Novo is advancing its flagship Beatons Creek gold project to production while exploring and developing its highly prospective land package covering approximately 14,000 square kilometres in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. In addition to the Company’s primary focus, Novo seeks to leverage its internal geological expertise to deliver value-accretive opportunities to its shareholders. For more information, please contact Leo Karabelas at (416) 543-3120 or e-mail leo@novoresources.com

AND
Novo and Sumitomo Complete Earn-In Over Kangan Project at Egina With Essential Metals Limited.
VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Dec. 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Novo Resources Corp. ( “Novo” or the “Company” ) (TSX-V: NVO; OTCQX: NSRPF) is pleased to announce that it has, in conjunction with Sumitomo Corporation of Tokyo, Japan, completed its earn-in obligations and earned a 70% interest in precious metals rights on Essential Metals Limited’s (formerly Pioneer Resources Limited) (“ Essential ”) (ASX: ESS) Kangan project. The Kangan project comprises a portion of the Company’s Egina project ( see figure 1 below ). Please see the Company’s news releases dated September 17, 2018 , and June 7, 2019 for further details.

“We are excited to continue progressing exploration efforts and align the parties’ strategic objectives to maximize the potential of the prospective Egina project,” commented Quinton Hennigh, Chairman and President of Novo. “We look forward to partnering with Sumitomo and our new joint venture partner, Essential, in order to advance the Kangan project and the broader Egina project.”