Viking Mines Lifts Linka Tungsten Recovery to 76% at Premium Grade

Metallurgical Breakthrough Boosts Recovery

Viking Mines Limited (ASX:VKA) has reported a major leap in metallurgical performance at its Linka Tungsten Project in Nevada, with combined gravity and flotation testwork lifting tungsten recovery to 76.0% at a premium 56.9% WO3 concentrate grade. This represents a 1.27x improvement on the 59.8% recovery reported less than two weeks earlier, comfortably exceeding the company’s target of over 70% recovery at more than 50% WO3 grade.

The testwork was conducted on a 10 kg sample from the Linka Pit, applying a gravity-led flowsheet complemented by rougher and cleaner flotation stages. The gravity circuit alone produced a concentrate grading 66.6% WO3 at 42.16% recovery, while flotation concentrate graded 48.2% WO3 at 33.89% recovery. Combined, these deliver the 56.9% WO3 concentrate grade at 76.0% recovery, a step-change that Viking describes as industry-leading for this feed grade of 1.2% WO3.

Low-Cost Processing Pathway Takes Shape

Viking’s Managing Director Julian Woodcock emphasised the deliberate simplicity of the flowsheet, relying on proven gravity and flotation technologies to enable a low-capital development model. The results feed directly into a conceptual processing study with Mineral Technologies, which is refining capital and operating cost estimates for a modular plant design that can be permitted and built faster than traditional facilities.

This low-CAPEX approach leverages the ability to produce a premium scheelite concentrate predominantly through gravity separation, a competitive advantage that supports the company’s “Rapid-Start” project model. The ongoing optimisation of flotation reagents aims to further boost recovery towards an ambitious 80% while maintaining concentrate grades above the 50% WO3 saleable threshold.

Strategic Positioning Amid Soaring Tungsten Prices

Linka’s enhanced metallurgical profile comes at a time when tungsten prices remain near historic highs, with ammonium paratungstate (APT) prices quoted at US$3,100 per metric tonne unit. Viking positions Linka as a strategic asset within the US tungsten supply chain, which is increasingly focused on securing domestic sources of “NATO-grade” tungsten amid geopolitical pressures.

The project’s location in Nevada and its low-capex processing model align with US government and manufacturing interests to diversify supply away from traditional channels. Viking’s ongoing metallurgical progress complements recent approvals for a maiden drilling program set to begin in the June quarter, aiming to validate resource potential and advance permitting.

Next Steps in Metallurgical and Resource Development

Following the establishment of operating conditions for gravity and flotation circuits, Viking is moving into optimisation and variability testing across multiple bulk samples collected from the project area. Planned activities include flotation reagent refinement, comminution testing to define crushing and grinding requirements, gravity enhancement tests, and ore sorting evaluations.

Simultaneously, geological modelling is advancing with updated 3D data, supporting the upcoming maiden drilling campaign. This program, recently permitted, will commence with earthworks and site preparation before drilling, marking a critical phase in de-risking and advancing Linka towards development.