Tungsten Mining has commenced its major drilling program at the Mt Mulgine project in Western Australia, as the company looks to test the scale of the Mulgine Trench exploration target.
The program includes 130 reverse-circulation (RC) holes for 40,000m of drilling and 37 PQ diamond holes for 4700m at Mulgine Trench, with assay results expected to be released periodically around six weeks after drilling begins.
The RC drilling has been designed to test continuity of extensions beneath the 2020 mineral resource estimate (MRE), targeting an additional 80m to 160m down-dip.
Tungsten Mining said the work will test the upper portions of the previously reported exploration target of 165–200 million tonnes grading 0.10–0.12 per cent tungsten trioxide (WO3) and 180–220 parts per million molybdenum.
The exploration target contains between 165,000 tonnes and 240,000 tonnes of contained WO3 and 30,000–36,000 tonnes of contained molybdenum, which Tungsten Mining said could add significantly to the existing 270,000 tonnes of contained WO3 in the current MRE.
The Mulgine Trench forms part of the company’s wholly owned Mt Mulgine project, located approximately 330km north-northeast of Perth and 15km northeast of Rothsay.
Tungsten Mining chair Gary Lyons said the program reflected the company’s development ambitions.
“This Mount Mulgine drilling campaign reflects TGN’s drive to meet favourable and ongoing market conditions through the development of its globally significant tungsten assets in Australia – one of the world’s most secure mining jurisdictions,” Lyons said.
The company said the drilling will test Mulgine Trench at depth and along strike, where there is strong evidence of continuity.
“The potential therefore exists, upon completion of the drilling and assessment of the relevant results, to add to TGN’s already significant resource base, potentially positioning Mt Mulgine as one of the largest, if not the very largest, tungsten project outside of China,” Tungsten Mining said.
The diamond drilling component will collect material for metallurgical test work and gather geotechnical data for pit design studies.
The start of drilling follows on-site preparation works announced in May, which included drill pad preparation, surveying, drill hole markout, support infrastructure groundworks, site access preparation and safety works.
At the time, Lyons said the program had the potential to add to Tungsten Mining’s existing resource base and “potentially positioning Mt Mulgine as the largest tungsten project in the world”.
Mt Mulgine is one of two key projects being advanced by Tungsten Mining, alongside Watershed in Queensland. Also in May, the company said it was preparing a 15,000m drilling program at Watershed, targeting high-grade near-surface tungsten zones that could support potential accelerated development options.
The company’s broader push is being supported by a $53 million placement announced earlier this year, with funds directed towards work at Mt Mulgine and Watershed, as well as project evaluation and working capital.
The latest drilling also comes amid stronger tungsten market conditions, with rising prices and tightening global supply chains placing greater attention on Australian projects capable of supporting future non-Chinese supply.
Read more: Tungsten’s turning point
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