The nickel copper ratio is the key here. It is basically related to the original magma the sulphides are derived from . Nova seems to be about 2.5:1 Ni:Cu. This is typical of a mafic/ gabbroic system. Actually the grades seem very similar to the high grade parts of the Lynn Lake deposits in Manitoba. The discovery hole there ran 160m @ 4.5% Ni and 1.5% Cu. It was effectively a down dip hole in a glacially truncated pipe - Nova looks like something similar only a bit more mashed about by deformation and metamophism , laid on its side and potentially much bigger.
I think you could already replicate that best hole at Lynn Lake by drilling down plunge in the known Nova system.
Btw the nickel grades here ( I suspect up to 7 or 8%) are exceptional for a system with such a good copper content. Normally the ratio is similar but the overall grades are a fair bit lower.
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