Nova Minerals (ASX:NVA) said reverse circulation drilling results show that a pilot starter pit may be suitable within the company's Estelle gold and critical minerals project in Alaska, to test ore sorting on a larger scale, according to a Wednesday filing with the Australian bourse.

Drilling yielded 19 meters at 0.6 grams per tonne gold from surface, including six meters at one gram per tonne gold from nine meters, the filing said.

Results from surface samples taken across the project last year will be reported once processed, the filing added.

Shares of the company rose 1% in recent Wednesday trade.