Tungsten Mining Unveils Maiden Resource at Hatches Creek, Boosting Critical Minerals Outlook
Tungsten Mining NL has reported a maiden inferred mineral resource at its Hatches Creek Project, revealing significant tungsten and copper grades that underpin its ambitions to become a key critical minerals producer.
- Maiden inferred resource of 12.0Mt at 0.17% WO3 and 0.12% Cu in tungsten domains
- Additional 6.1Mt at 0.29% copper in separate copper domains
- Preliminary metallurgical tests yield 50% WO3 concentrate via ore sorting and gravity separation
- Resource constrained within economic pit shells based on current market prices
- Project covers historic mining areas with extensive recent drilling confirming mineralisation continuity
A Significant Milestone for Tungsten Mining
Australian tungsten developer Tungsten Mining NL (ASX: TGN) has announced a maiden inferred mineral resource estimate for its Hatches Creek Project in the Northern Territory, marking a pivotal step in the company's journey towards becoming a producer of critical minerals. The resource estimate, completed under the JORC 2012 code, covers multiple deposits including Hit or Miss, Treasure, Green Diamond, Black Diamond, and Bonanza.
Resource Highlights and Composition
The estimate reports an inferred mineral resource of 12 million tonnes grading 0.17% tungsten trioxide (WO3) and 0.12% copper within tungsten domains. In addition, a separate copper domain hosts 6.1 million tonnes at 0.29% copper, exclusive of the tungsten resource. This dual-metal potential enhances the project's economic appeal, especially amid strengthening global prices for both tungsten and copper.
Metallurgical Promise and Processing Potential
Preliminary metallurgical studies have demonstrated promising results, with ore sorting, gravity, and magnetic separation techniques successfully producing a tungsten concentrate grading 50% WO3. These findings suggest efficient processing pathways that could underpin a low-cost production model. The company continues to refine these processes, aiming to optimise recoveries and concentrate quality.
Historical Context and Exploration Progress
The Hatches Creek Project encompasses a historic tungsten mining centre with operations dating back to the early 20th century. Tungsten Mining now holds 100% ownership following the acquisition of interests from GWR Group Limited. Extensive reverse circulation drilling since 2016 has validated mineralisation continuity and expanded the resource base. The project area features multiple mineralised lodes hosted in Proterozoic geological formations, with tungsten predominantly present as wolframite.
Outlook and Next Steps
With the maiden resource in place, Tungsten Mining is advancing towards feasibility studies, further metallurgical testwork, and environmental approvals. The company is also investigating strategies to initially process historical stockpiles before commencing open pit mining. The resource estimate is constrained within optimised pit shells based on current market prices, underscoring the project's economic viability under prevailing conditions.
Bottom Line?
Tungsten Mining’s maiden resource at Hatches Creek sets the stage for critical minerals production, but upcoming feasibility and regulatory milestones will be key to unlocking value.
Questions in the middle?
- How will ongoing metallurgical testwork impact recovery rates and processing costs?
- What timeline is Tungsten Mining targeting for feasibility completion and potential production start?
- How might evolving tungsten and copper market prices influence project economics and development decisions?
