Rumble Resources (ASX:RTR) continues to tick off key milestones at its Western Queen Gold and Tungsten Project in Western Australia, with mine design complete, scheduling well advanced, and an updated Scoping Study due this month.
The company says the Scoping Study for the 100%-owned project has taken slightly longer than anticipated. However, the aim is to maximise the amount of indicated resource from the Western Queen South Central area included in the updated mine plan.
Bigger resource underpins new plan
The June update boosted Western Queen’s resource by 17% to 5.13 million tonnes (Mt) @ 2.6 grams per tonne gold (Au) for 433,600 ounces of contained Au. Importantly, 2.46Mt @ 2.9g/t Au for 227,700 ounces is now classified as indicated, providing a higher-confidence resource base for mine planning.
By contrast, the November 2025 Western Queen South underground mining Scoping Study was based on only part of the then-defined Western Queen South resource.
Building a case for production
Rumble signed a toll milling and blending agreement with Gylden Resources and Kirkalocka Gold in May to have its ore processed at a plant about 180km to the southeast of Western Queen in the prolific Yalgoo Mineral Field.
Since then, Gylden has executed a key construction contract with Interquip Construction for refurbishment of the Kirkalocka processing plant, with engineering work progressing on schedule.
At Western Queen itself, Rumble has ticked off several key items including the works approval, native vegetation clearance approval, and groundwater extraction licence.
The key remaining approval is the mine development and closure proposal, with Rumble responding to requests for additional information from the WA Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration.
Pit dewatering is also moving ahead. Pipework has been delivered to site, and the required notification of commencement of operations has been submitted.
Contractor and funding discussions under way
Rumble is progressing discussions with potential underground mining contractors and says several parties have expressed interest in the project.
Financing discussions are also progressing and potential project debt providers are now awaiting the updated Scoping Study before submitting indicative term sheets.
The company then plans to move into a Feasibility Study to support a formal decision to mine, targeting completion of that work in Q4 2026.
Rumble MD and CEO Peter Harold says: “We continue to progress all the workstreams required to get Western Queen into production, including completing all the necessary studies, engagement with underground mining and road haulage contractors, advancing operational readiness, and project financing.
“The updated Scoping Study is nearing completion. We know it has taken a bit longer than planned, however we are now close to finalising the study so we can update shareholders on the proposed Western Queen mine development.
“Following receipt of the groundwater extraction licence, the mine development and closure proposal remains the key outstanding approval required prior to commencing underground pre-development works.
“The updated Scoping Study will be given to preselected project debt providers in order for them to provide indicative term sheets.
“We will then select a preferred debt provider and work with them to finalise the project financing while we complete the Feasibility Study during the December quarter.
“We remain fully committed to mining Western Queen initially to recover the gold and potentially down the track the tungsten too.”
Tungsten offers another potential revenue stream
Western Queen’s maiden tungsten resource, released in August 2025, defined 4.31Mt at 0.31% tungsten trioxide (WO₃) for 13.2 kilotonnes of contained WO₃.
Metallurgical test work has demonstrated that the scheelite-bearing material can be upgraded through a relatively simple gravity circuit to a concentrate grading 48% WO₃, with 45% recovery.
Rumble plans to complete a separate Scoping Study on the tungsten opportunity after the gold Feasibility Study.
Rumble Resources is an explorer with a portfolio of multi-commodity projects in WA.
Write to Christina Wagstaff at Mining.com.au
Main image: Rumble Resources
