Red Mountain Advances Pioneer Tungsten Sampling Ahead of Drill Campaign

Systematic Sampling Targets Drill-Ready Tungsten Zones

Red Mountain Mining (ASX:RMX) has kicked off a systematic rock chip sampling program at its 100% owned Pioneer Tungsten Project in Montana, focusing on the Greenstone and Lost Creek claim areas. This methodical approach aims to delineate surface tungsten mineralisation and identify priority drill targets, building on reconnaissance samples that returned anomalous tungsten grades up to 3,159ppm (0.32% WO3) at Greenstone and 2,856ppm (0.29% WO3) at Mammoth.

The Pioneer Project’s geology is dominated by garnet skarns hosted in massive limestone units along the eastern margin of the Mount Torrey Batholith. These skarns are known to carry scheelite (CaWO4), a tungsten mineral of economic interest. The current sampling effort is designed to map the grade variability and continuity of tungsten mineralisation across outcropping skarns, using east-west traverses spaced roughly 50 metres apart. Where possible, channel samples spanning 5 metres of outcrop are collected to ensure representativity.

Nearby Major Deposits Set Benchmark for Pioneer

Red Mountain’s claims lie immediately adjacent to Almonty Industries’ holdings, which include the Gentung Tungsten Deposit boasting a mineral resource of 6.83 million tonnes at 0.315% WO3. The grades from Red Mountain’s initial sampling are comparable to Gentung, underscoring the project’s potential. Historical mines such as Ivanhoe and Lost Creek, located nearby, produced an estimated 680,000 tonnes of tungsten ore during the 1950s and 1970s, indicating a well-established tungsten district.

Geological mapping and magnetic modelling by Arrow Geosciences have revealed shallow subsurface granodiorite bodies beneath the limestone host rocks, interpreted as the heat source driving skarn formation. This geophysical insight supports the prospectivity of the Pioneer claims for hosting down-dip tungsten mineralisation beneath surface exposures.

Next Steps and Drilling Plans

Assay results from the current systematic sampling campaign are anticipated by the end of August 2026. Subject to positive outcomes, Red Mountain plans to rapidly progress to drill testing downdip extensions of the skarn mineralisation. This approach leverages the relatively simple and well-understood geology of the project, enabling swift advancement from surface sampling to targeted drilling.

Meanwhile, in Australia, Red Mountain is poised to commence drilling at its Armidale Antimony-Gold Project in New South Wales. The drilling rig is scheduled to mobilise in early August following weather-related delays, with access tracks and initial drill sites at Oaky Creek already prepared. The program will include up to 32 reverse circulation holes targeting multiple priority antimony-gold prospects within the project area.

Historical Context and Strategic Positioning

The Pioneer Project covers 458 hectares across three discrete claim blocks; Greenstone, Mammoth, and Lost Creek; secured under US federal law on Bureau of Land Management land. The claims encompass historical tungsten workings explored extensively in the mid-20th century, although previous data do not meet modern JORC standards. Red Mountain’s current work aims to build a compliant and robust exploration dataset.

The company’s US portfolio also includes other critical minerals projects such as the Utah Antimony Project and Thompson Falls Antimony Project, reinforcing its focus on strategic metals vital to Western supply chains. The Pioneer Tungsten Project’s proximity to Almonty’s significant resource and historical production centres positions Red Mountain well to capitalise on tungsten’s critical mineral status.