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Resolution Minerals Targets 2,000 Tonnes of Tungsten Ore with New Acquisition

Mining By Maxwell Dee 3 min read

Resolution Minerals is fast-tracking development of its historic Golden Gate Tungsten Mine in Idaho, leveraging expert geological insight and acquiring critical processing infrastructure to capitalise on soaring tungsten demand.

  • Engagement of veteran geologist David R. Hembree to lead tungsten exploration
  • Planned drilling campaign set for June 2026 targeting expanded tungsten resources
  • Acquisition of Johnson Creek Mill and 2,000 tonnes of tungsten ore stockpiles
  • Strategic positioning amid record-high tungsten prices driven by defence and clean energy demand
  • Potential to develop Horse Heaven Project as a US hub for critical metal production

Historic Tungsten Mine Poised for Revival

Resolution Minerals Ltd (ASX, RML) is advancing its tungsten exploration and development efforts at the Horse Heaven Project in Idaho, USA, with a renewed focus on the historic Golden Gate Tungsten Mine. This site, which produced tungsten intermittently from the 1950s through to 1980, is now the centrepiece of Resolution’s strategy to tap into the surging global demand for this critical metal.

Central to this push is the appointment of David R. Hembree, a geologist with 45 years’ experience and direct historical knowledge of Golden Gate, having been the last mine geologist there in the early 1980s. His expertise is expected to accelerate exploration, including a drilling program scheduled for June 2026, and guide metallurgical testing on existing tungsten stockpiles.

Strategic Acquisition Enhances Processing Capability

Complementing the geological expertise, Resolution is in the final stages of acquiring the Johnson Creek Mill, a past-producing tungsten and antimony processing facility located adjacent to the Horse Heaven Project. This acquisition includes approximately 2,000 tonnes of tungsten ore stockpiled from previous mining operations, as well as valuable industrial water rights.

Owning this private land and processing infrastructure offers Resolution significant strategic advantages, including greater permitting flexibility and the potential to develop downstream processing partnerships. This positions the company to become a key domestic supplier of tungsten, a metal increasingly critical for military, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing applications.

Market Dynamics Fuel Optimism

Tungsten prices have reached record highs, currently around US$900 per metric tonne unit, driven by geopolitical tensions, China’s export controls, and rising demand from clean energy technologies, AI semiconductors, and lithium-ion batteries. The US government’s push to secure reliable Western sources of critical metals further underscores the strategic importance of Resolution’s project.

Resolution’s Horse Heaven Project, covering approximately 59 square kilometres within the Boise National Forest, lies adjacent to the fully permitted Stibnite Gold Project. The company believes there is significant potential to expand tungsten mineralisation along the Golden Gate Fault and at other emerging targets within the project area.

Looking Ahead

With drilling planned for mid-2026 and metallurgical testing underway, Resolution is well-positioned to unlock additional tungsten resources and advance the Horse Heaven Project towards production. The combination of historical data, expert geological input, and strategic asset acquisition creates a compelling narrative for investors watching the critical metals space.

As the global race for secure and diversified supply chains intensifies, Resolution Minerals’ efforts to revive and expand the Golden Gate Tungsten Mine could mark a pivotal step in establishing a robust US-based tungsten supply.

Bottom Line?

Resolution Minerals is setting the stage to become a key player in the US critical metals market as tungsten demand and prices climb.

Questions in the middle?

  • What will the upcoming drilling results reveal about the scale of tungsten resources at Golden Gate?
  • How will the integration of the Johnson Creek Mill impact project timelines and costs?
  • Can Resolution secure partnerships for downstream processing and product offtakes to maximise value?