Critical Resources (ASX:CRR) has confirmed ‘high-grade’ scheelite mineralisation at the Granite Creek tungsten target within its Croesus Project on New Zealand’s West Coast.
A channel sample across an in-situ quartz-scheelite vein returned 0.41m at 16.63% tungsten trioxide. The sample was collected perpendicular to the vein and is considered to represent true width at the sample location.
Of the 25 samples collected, nine delivered ‘high-grade’ tungsten results ranging from 0.67% to 16.63% tungsten trioxide — with six samples exceeding 1% and three surpassing 2%
Outcropping quartz veins also yielded grades of 2.21%, 1.61%, 0.90% and 0.67% tungsten trioxide.
A 0.20m footwall sample from the altered wall rock adjoining the vein returned 3,820 parts per million tungsten, indicating mineralisation extends beyond the ‘high-grade’ structure.
Scheelite-bearing float has been found in drainages on both flanks of the Barrytown ridge.
Historical sampling at Little Granite Creek to the north reported grades up to 26.6% tungsten trioxide, suggesting the mineralised system may extend beyond the immediate target.
The program validated key parts of a substantial historical dataset, allowing the company to move directly to focused target confirmation and an exploration permit application ahead of maiden drill testing.
“These are strong, repeatable tungsten grades,” Managing Director Tim Wither says.
“And it is not a one-off — nine of our 25 samples returned high-grade tungsten, including six above 1% tungsten trioxide and three above 2% tungsten trioxide over more than 600m of the target.”
With China controlling around 80% of global supply and progressively tightening exports, the tungsten benchmark has climbed to roughly ten times its long-run average.
Several Western governments, including New Zealand, Australia, the US, and the EU, have now listed the metal as a critical mineral.
Critical Resources is targeting lodgement of an exploration permit application over the Granite Creek target in H2 2026, with maiden drill testing to follow, subject to permit grant and required approvals.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: Critical Resources
