Western Queen Mine Development Hinges on Drilling Results and Tungsten Testwork
Rumble Resources is set to begin a 20,000-metre diamond drilling program at its Western Queen Gold Project, aiming to expand gold resources and explore tungsten revenue potential as it advances underground mining studies.
- 20,000m diamond drilling program to grow July 2025 gold resource
- Scoping study underway for underground mining at Western Queen South and Central
- Ongoing open pit mining options being optimised
- Draft toll treating agreement received for third-party ore processing
- Maiden tungsten resource of 13.2kt WO3 with metallurgical testwork planned
Exploration Momentum Builds
Rumble Resources Limited (ASX – RTR) is gearing up to commence a substantial diamond drilling campaign at its Western Queen Gold Project in Western Australia. The program, scheduled to start this week, will deploy two rigs to complete up to 20,000 metres of drilling by February 2026. This effort primarily targets extensions to the recently upgraded July 2025 Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 370,000 ounces of gold at 3.1 grams per tonne, focusing on high-grade zones beneath the Western Queen South and Central deposits.
Alongside resource expansion, a portion of the drilling will infill existing resource areas to convert inferred resources into indicated categories, supporting ongoing underground mining studies. The drilling will also investigate tungsten skarn lodes adjacent to the gold mineralisation, following the maiden tungsten MRE announced in August 2025.
Advancing Mining Development Options
Rumble is progressing a detailed scoping study for underground mining at Western Queen South and Central, following a positive preliminary assessment. This study runs in parallel with ongoing optimisation of open pit mining options, including a smaller-scale open pit plan under review. The company is balancing these approaches to determine the most economically viable path forward.
Notably, the original Term Sheet with Bain Global Resources and MEGA Resources, which outlined financing and development arrangements, has expired. However, Rumble intends to complete its underground scoping study and continue evaluating open pit options before finalising agreements. This cautious approach reflects the company’s commitment to thorough project evaluation amid evolving market and operational conditions.
Third-Party Processing and Tungsten Potential
On the processing front, Rumble is engaged in discussions with nearby gold processing plants and has received a draft toll treating agreement, which could facilitate ore processing without the need for immediate capital-intensive infrastructure. This arrangement could accelerate the pathway to production.
Meanwhile, the tungsten resource at Western Queen, estimated at 13.2 kilotonnes of WO3, presents an intriguing secondary revenue opportunity. Preliminary metallurgical testwork indicates promising recoveries, and a detailed program is set to commence in the December quarter to validate economic viability. The spatial proximity and geological relationship between tungsten and gold mineralisation could enable integrated extraction strategies, enhancing project economics.
Well Funded and Focused on Production
Following a recent capital raise, Rumble is well positioned financially to advance exploration and development activities. The company targets late 2026 for gold production commencement, contingent on successful drilling results, mining studies, and processing agreements. This timeline underscores Rumble’s ambition to transition from exploration to cash flow generation within a relatively short horizon.
Bottom Line?
As drilling kicks off and studies progress, Rumble’s ability to integrate gold and tungsten resources will be pivotal to unlocking Western Queen’s full value.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the upcoming drilling significantly increase the gold resource beyond current estimates?
- How will the underground mining scoping study influence the choice between open pit and underground operations?
- Can metallurgical testwork confirm a commercially viable tungsten revenue stream alongside gold?
