American Tungsten & Antimony Ltd is set to submit a Notice of Intent for its first diamond drilling program at the Tennessee Mountain Tungsten Project in Nevada, aiming to validate historic high-grade mineralisation and establish a formal resource estimate.
- Notice of Intent to be submitted for maiden diamond drilling at Tennessee Mountain
- Drilling targets historical high-grade tungsten intercepts within a large skarn system
- Focus on previously disturbed areas to streamline permitting and reduce environmental impact
- Program aims to deliver a maiden JORC 2012 or SK-1300 compliant Mineral Resource
- Drilling also underway at Antimony Canyon Project, expanding critical minerals portfolio
Strategic Milestone for Tennessee Mountain
American Tungsten & Antimony Ltd (ASX, AT4) has announced a significant step forward in its US critical minerals ambitions with plans to submit a Notice of Intent (NOI) for a maiden diamond drilling program at its 100%-owned Tennessee Mountain Tungsten Project in Nevada. This move marks the company’s commitment to validating extensive historical data from the 1950s and 1970s, which identified a large-scale tungsten-molybdenum skarn system with promising grades.
Located in Elko County, Tennessee Mountain benefits from a history of trenching and mining activity, which the company believes will simplify regulatory approvals by focusing on previously disturbed ground. This approach not only aims to accelerate the permitting process but also minimises new surface disturbance, aligning with growing environmental considerations in mining exploration.
Targeting High-Grade Tungsten Mineralisation
The upcoming diamond core drilling program is designed to verify and extend several high-grade historical intercepts, some exceeding 0.9% tungsten trioxide (WO3) over significant widths. Notable historical results include intercepts such as 24.9 metres at 0.65% WO3 and 13.11 metres at 0.71% WO3 from surface, indicating a robust mineralised system that extends over a strike length of more than 5 kilometres.
By confirming these grades and geological continuity, American Tungsten & Antimony aims to rapidly establish a maiden Mineral Resource compliant with JORC 2012 or SK-1300 standards. This resource estimate will be a critical foundation for positioning the company as a key domestic supplier of tungsten, a metal increasingly recognised for its strategic importance in defence and industrial applications.
Broader Critical Minerals Strategy
Alongside Tennessee Mountain, drilling has commenced at the Antimony Canyon Project in Utah, another flagship asset within AT4’s portfolio. Together, these projects underscore the company’s strategy to develop a vertically integrated, conflict-free supply chain for critical minerals within Tier-1 US jurisdictions.
Managing Director Andre Booyzen emphasised the importance of this phase, stating that the targeted drilling on historically disturbed and drill-tested areas reflects a responsible approach to exploration. He highlighted the potential for Tennessee Mountain to contribute significantly to US tungsten supply security at a time when sovereign control over critical minerals is a national priority.
Looking Ahead
The company expects prompt regulatory feedback on the NOI and is preparing logistics to commence drilling immediately upon approval. The results of this drilling campaign will be closely watched by investors and industry observers alike, as they will provide the first modern validation of a historically promising tungsten asset in a jurisdiction favoured for mining investment.
Bottom Line?
As drilling gears up, American Tungsten & Antimony is poised to redefine US tungsten supply dynamics with its maiden resource estimate.
Questions in the middle?
- How quickly will regulatory approval be granted for the Tennessee Mountain drilling program?
- Will the drilling results confirm the high-grade historical tungsten intercepts to support a substantial resource?
- How will progress at Tennessee Mountain influence the company’s broader strategy and valuation?