Tungsten Mining Launches Major Drilling to Expand Mt Mulgine Resource
Tungsten Mining NL has kicked off a large-scale drilling campaign at its Mt Mulgine Project, aiming to test a substantial exploration target that could significantly boost its tungsten resources.
- 130 RC holes and 37 diamond holes underway
- Targeting 165-200 million tonnes at 0.10-0.12% WO3
- Potential to add to existing 270 Kt WO3 resource
- Assay results expected six weeks post-drilling start
- Drilling supports metallurgical and geotechnical studies
Drilling Campaign Targets Resource Expansion
Tungsten Mining NL (ASX:TGN) has commenced a significant reverse circulation (RC) and diamond drilling program at its wholly owned Mt Mulgine Project in Western Australia. The campaign is designed to test an Exploration Target of 165 to 200 million tonnes grading between 0.10% and 0.12% tungsten trioxide (WO3), alongside molybdenum concentrations of 180 to 220 ppm. This represents a potential addition of up to 240,000 tonnes of contained WO3, which could materially increase the company’s existing 270,000 tonnes of contained tungsten resource at Mt Mulgine.
The program involves 130 RC holes totaling 40,000 metres and 37 PQ diamond holes for 4,700 metres. The RC drilling aims to assess the continuity of extensions beneath the 2020 Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE), targeting down-dip extensions of 80 to 160 metres. Meanwhile, the diamond drilling will supply material for metallurgical test work and gather geotechnical data critical for future pit design.
Strategic Importance of Mt Mulgine
Located approximately 330 kilometres north-northeast of Perth, the Mt Mulgine Project sits within contiguous mining leases near Rothsay. Tungsten Mining highlights the project’s potential to become one of the largest tungsten deposits outside China, a country that dominates global tungsten supply. The company’s chairman, Gary Lyons, emphasised the importance of developing these assets amid favourable market conditions and Australia’s reputation as a secure mining jurisdiction.
The Exploration Target remains conceptual, with insufficient drilling to date to categorise the additional tonnage as a Mineral Resource. Tungsten Mining cautions that further exploration is required to confirm whether this target can be upgraded to a resource classification.
Next Steps and Market Implications
Assay results from the drilling campaign are expected approximately six weeks after commencement, which will provide the first indication of whether the targeted extensions contain economically viable tungsten mineralisation. The company plans to release these results periodically, maintaining transparency with the market as the program progresses.
Alongside resource expansion, the metallurgical and geotechnical data collected will inform feasibility and pit design studies, advancing Mt Mulgine’s development pathway. This drilling initiative builds on Tungsten Mining’s broader strategy to establish itself as a major player in the global tungsten market, leveraging Australia’s critical minerals focus and rising tungsten demand.
With tungsten’s strategic applications spanning aerospace, defence, electronics, and automotive sectors, the outcome of this drilling campaign could have implications for supply security outside China. Investors will be watching closely as assay data emerge, potentially reshaping Tungsten Mining’s resource profile and project valuation.
Bottom Line?
Upcoming assay results will be pivotal in determining whether Mt Mulgine’s exploration target can translate into a substantial resource upgrade.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the drilling confirm continuity and grade sufficient to upgrade the Exploration Target to a Mineral Resource?
- How will metallurgical test results influence the feasibility of low-cost tungsten concentrate production?
- What impact could a significantly expanded Mt Mulgine resource have on tungsten supply dynamics outside China?