Guardian Metal Resources (LSE:GMET) has been conducting exploration across its non-core asset portfolio, including staking 57 new claims at the White Elephant Project in Nevada, US.
At White Elephant, initial rock chip sampling assays have returned tungsten grades including 29m @ 0.31% tungsten oxide.
Initial field work mapped multiple areas of skarn mineralisation at granite-limestone contacts, historical exploration activity and mines, including a historical mill site.
Meanwhile at the Pilot North Tungsten-Copper-Silver Project, located approximately 30km from the Pilot Mountain Project, rock chip samples have returned 29m @ 0.18% tungsten oxide, complemented by several ‘high-grade’ tungsten-copper-silver grab sample results.
The company also staked an additional eight new lode mining claims to further expand Pilot North.
At the Cinch Tungsten-Silver Project in Nevada, Guardian Metal staked 20 new claims, as well as completed an initial reconnaissance field work program. Rock chip assays returned 0.22% tungsten oxide and 1,950 grams per tonne silver.
Further, at the Garfield Gold-Silver-Copper Project, geological mapping was completed, followed by Guardian Metal staking 56 lode mining claims to cover the new Freeze South and Mother zones.
Some of the assays from rock chip sampling include: 11.2g/t gold; 8.55g/t gold and 7.1% copper; and 7.2g/t gold, 114g/t silver, and 2.3% copper.
CEO Oliver Friesen says the company’s generative exploration program continues to show its value, with ‘strong’ tungsten, base metal, and precious metal results achieved across several non-core assets.
“It is a remarkable testament to the hard work of the team for delivering this while also making fantastic progress across both of our co-flagship assets, Tempiute and Pilot Mountain,” Friesen says.
Pilot Mountain and Tempiute
As previously reported, Guardian Metal is also ramping up commercial discussions for the Pilot Mountain Project following completion of a Prefeasibility Study (PFS).
Friesen told this news service that the company is looking into signing potential offtake or commercial arrangements in advance of completing a Definitive Feasibility Study.
“We think this year is certainly a realistic target to start to sign some of those deals to really give the market a handle as to where this material is ultimately going to go when we do get into production,” Friesen said.
The June 2025 PFS highlights Pilot Mountain to generate a post-tax free cash flow of US$1.058 billion ($1.52 billion), with a net present value of US$660.3 million at an internal rate of return of 59.6%.
Based on using a conventional open pit mining method, Pilot Mountain is anticipated to produce 15,916 tonnes of tungsten oxide over an eight-year mine life.
Pilot Mountain’s timeline contemplates first ore through the mill in Q4 2028, with initial commissioning tonnes marking the start of processing operations.
This news follows Guardian Metal signing a strategic partnership with the Montana Mining Association to collaborate on a tungsten mining and recovery pilot program, supporting domestic defence applications.
As part of the partnership, Guardian Metal will supply stockpiled legacy ore from the Tempiute Tungsten Project in Nevada. Tempiute will deliver an initial 250–400 tonnes of ore, which will be transported to Philipsburg, Montana, for trial processing at the partner milling and processing facility.
First shipments of legacy ore are expected by late summer 2026, subject to completing metallurgical test work.
Guardian Metal Resources is a Nevada-focused tungsten explorer and developer.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Guardian Metal Resources
