Viking Mines (ASX:VKA) has confirmed that historical processing recovered the majority of tungsten from mined material at its Linka Tungsten Project in Nevada, US, with tailings sampling returning low residual grades.
The 52-sample program returned a thickness-weighted average of 0.03% tungsten trioxide (WO3), with a maximum of 0.15%. The company says the results provide positive metallurgical context for Linka’s primary mineralisation and support confidence in the project’s processing characteristics.
“The tailings program has delivered a useful and positive result,” Managing Director Julian Woodcock says.
“Very little tungsten appears to have been left behind in the historical tailings dam, which supports the view that the historical operation recovered tungsten extremely efficiently from Linka ore.
“That is a constructive read-through as we prepare for maiden drilling. Linka now has low residual tailings grades, a quality 56.9% WO3 concentrate from recent test work at 76% recovery, and drilling about to commence.”
These results relate specifically to the historical tailings dam and are separate from the historical Linka Main stockpile, which returned an average grade of 0.4% WO3 across 41 samples and 0.8% WO3 in a 97.8kg metallurgical sample.
The tailings characterisation program collected samples across the historical dam on a 20m by 40m grid, with each sample representing the full thickness of the dam.
The company interprets the low residual grades as evidence of effective historical processing, although precise recovery figures cannot be determined due to insufficient records.
Viking’s confidence in Linka’s metallurgical performance is underpinned by its recent test work, rather than by the tailings characterisation alone.
Mobilisation for the maiden reverse circulation drilling campaign is expected to commence in the week beginning 6 July 2026, with the rig anticipated on site in mid-July.
Pre-drilling earthworks are scheduled for the following week, preserving the company’s planned July start to first drill testing in more than 40 years.
Viking Mines is a critical minerals explorer advancing a portfolio of tungsten projects in Nevada alongside the Canegrass vanadium and battery minerals project in Western Australia.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: Viking Mines
