Rumble’s New Tungsten Discovery at Western Queen Could Shift Project Economics

A New Chapter for Western Queen

Rumble Resources Limited has taken a significant step forward at its Western Queen Project in Western Australia, unveiling a maiden tungsten Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) that adds a new dimension to the site’s mineral potential. The company reported an inferred resource of 4.31 million tonnes grading 0.31% tungsten trioxide (WO3), amounting to 13,200 tonnes of contained WO3. This discovery positions Western Queen not only as a high-grade gold project but also as a promising tungsten asset.

The tungsten resource includes a higher-grade core of 1.44 million tonnes at 0.51% WO3, underscoring zones of concentrated mineralisation that could be particularly attractive for future development. Importantly, the tungsten mineralisation occurs in skarn lodes that run subparallel to the existing gold mineralisation, which itself was recently upgraded to 370,000 ounces at 3.1 grams per tonne.

Strategic Importance of Tungsten

Tungsten is a critical mineral prized for its exceptional hardness, high melting point, and density, making it indispensable in aerospace, defence, and electronics industries. With China dominating over 85% of global tungsten production, Rumble’s discovery comes at a time when there is a strong push to diversify supply chains and reduce reliance on Chinese sources. This strategic context enhances the potential value of the Western Queen tungsten resource.

Rumble’s Managing Director, Peter Harold, highlighted the significance of this maiden resource, noting the rapid progression from initial identification to resource estimation in under 12 months. The company is optimistic about expanding the tungsten resource further, supported by ongoing geological interpretation and a reconnaissance field program targeting additional high-priority tungsten skarn mineralisation across a 5km by 2.5km area.

Exploration and Metallurgical Outlook

The tungsten mineralisation was identified entirely from drilling programs originally focused on gold, with no dedicated tungsten drilling to date. This suggests considerable upside potential as targeted tungsten exploration intensifies. Preliminary metallurgical testwork has been encouraging, indicating that tungsten-bearing scheelite material could generate a meaningful revenue stream. Rumble is preparing bulk samples for further metallurgical testing to refine recovery rates and economic viability.

The tungsten resource lies within granted mining leases that also host the gold resource, where approvals for open pit mining are underway. This co-location could facilitate integrated mining operations, potentially enhancing project economics by producing tungsten as a valuable by-product alongside gold.

Looking Ahead

While the tungsten resource is currently classified as inferred, reflecting early-stage confidence, the comprehensive geological work and positive initial testwork provide a solid foundation for further resource definition and feasibility studies. Rumble’s approach to expanding and understanding the tungsten potential at Western Queen will be closely watched by investors and industry observers alike, as the project could evolve into a significant dual-commodity producer.