Viking Mines Secures Key Permits for 63-Hole Drilling at Linka Tungsten Project
Viking Mines has cleared the final federal regulatory hurdle to commence its maiden drilling campaign at the Linka Tungsten Project in Nevada, positioning itself in the strategically critical US tungsten market.
- BLM approval received ahead of schedule
- 63-hole drilling program targets historic high-grade zones
- Contractor selection imminent with June mobilisation planned
- Linka poised to address US tungsten supply chain constraints
- Drilling to test 800m southwest extension and regional targets
Final Federal Approval Unlocks Drilling at Linka
Viking Mines (ASX:VKA) has secured US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) approval for its maiden 63-hole drilling program at the Linka Tungsten Project in Nevada, clearing the last major regulatory barrier ahead of schedule. This green light enables the company to proceed with its first subsurface exploration at Linka in over four decades, a crucial step as it seeks to validate historic tungsten mineralisation and expand known resources.
The project, which historically produced approximately 65,000 tonnes at 0.5% WO3 before ceasing operations in 1956, is now fully permitted pending bond payments. Viking's Managing Director Julian Woodcock emphasised the significance of this milestone, noting that with regulatory hurdles behind them, the focus shifts to finalising drilling contractor selection and commencing site preparations targeted for the June quarter.
Targeting High-Grade Historical Zones and New Extensions
The approved 63-hole campaign spans 48 drill pads across three distinct objectives. The bulk of drilling (36 holes) will focus on the Linka Main area, designed to verify high-grade historical intercepts such as 8.5 metres at 1.0% WO3 and 9.8 metres at 0.5% WO3. Additionally, 16 holes will test a previously untested ~800-metre southwest extension where surface sampling has returned grades up to 0.6% WO3. The remaining 11 reconnaissance holes aim to validate geophysical targets and explore for new mineralised zones within the broader intrusive complex.
This drilling campaign builds on Viking’s recent geophysical advances, including an expanded gravity survey that identified multiple high-gravity anomalies correlating with known mineralisation, which helped to de-risk the upcoming drilling program. These geophysical insights complement ongoing metallurgical testwork and processing studies aimed at advancing Linka toward development.
Such integrated exploration efforts are part of Viking’s broader strategy to fast-track Linka, supported by a modular processing design recently finalised to optimise concentrate grades and recovery rates.
Strategic Entry into the US Tungsten Market
Linka represents Viking’s entry point into the US tungsten sector, a market increasingly constrained by supply chain shifts. The December 2026 REEShore Act prohibits tungsten of Chinese origin from US Department of Defense supply chains, underscoring the strategic importance of domestic sources like Linka. Viking’s timely permitting and planned drilling program position the company to capitalise on this evolving landscape.
With contractor evaluations in their final stages, Viking expects to award the drilling contract imminently, with rig mobilisation slated for late in the June quarter. Site access and pad preparations will run in parallel, setting the stage for a busy field season ahead.
Investors will be watching closely as Viking moves from permitting to execution, with assay results from this maiden campaign likely to shape the project's next phase.
Bottom Line?
BLM approval clears the path for Viking’s maiden drilling, but contractor finalisation and drill results remain critical near-term milestones.
Questions in the middle?
- How will assay results from the maiden drilling impact Linka's resource estimates?
- What drilling contractor will Viking select, and how might that affect project timelines?
- Can Linka’s tungsten output effectively meet the US supply chain demands post-REEShore Act?
