Viking Mines (ASX:VKA) reports wide zones of visible scheelite mineralisation from ultraviolet (UV) logging at its Linka Tungsten Project in Nevada, US.
The company identified scheelite across multiple drill holes at the Linka Main target. Intercepts include a combined 22m of visible scheelite over a 24m horizon from 55m in hole LKRC0005 and a 12.2m continuous interval from 48.8m in LKRC0017.
Other results include a combined 10m of visible scheelite over a 12m horizon from 70m in LKRC0006 and 9.9m from 58.7m in LKRC0016.
The drilling continues to intersect disseminated, coarse-grained scheelite mineralisation hosted in tactite over significant widths, consistent with the style intersected in LKRC0002, which returned 14m @ 0.56% tungsten trioxide (WO3), as reported.
Scheelite was identified visually in reverse circulation (RC) drill chips using its fluorescence under shortwave UV light. Visual abundance estimates range from 0.1–1.5% scheelite across the intercepts.
Managing Director Julian Woodcock says the drilling demonstrates the scale of the visually identified mineralisation and validates the historical datasets.
“Continuing to intercept wide visual intercepts of scheelite at the Linka Tungsten Project is encouraging,” Woodcock adds.
“The drilling is demonstrating the scale of the visually identified mineralisation at Linka and is validating the historical datasets which made this such a compelling project in the first place.
“With the first assays recently received delivering 14m at 0.56% WO3, we are anticipating the assays for the visual intercepts being announced today.”
Viking has drilled 20 RC holes to date: 14 at Linka Main, four at the SW Extension target, and two at the Regional target. Visual scheelite intercepts were observed in nine of the remaining 11 Linka Main holes.
The two without notable mineralisation were LKRC0010, which encountered a 3m historical mining void, and LKRC0008, which did not intersect significant skarn.
At the SW Extension, two of four holes were drilled through younger cover, into limestone, and then the monzonite intrusive. No scheelite has been observed, but the presence of the contact supports the exploration model.
All samples have been delivered to the ALS laboratory in Reno, with results expected throughout September and October. The drill contractor has demobilised for rig maintenance, with the rig expected to return mid-October on a double shift basis.
Woodcock says the US tungsten environment is ‘moving quickly’, with the US Government recently restricting tungsten scrap exports and committing about US$150 million ($211 million) towards restarting tungsten production in Nevada.
Tungsten pricing remains at approximately US$2,950 per tonne unit WO3.
Viking Mines is an Australian critical minerals explorer whose portfolio includes the Canegrass Battery Minerals Project in Western Australia and the Linka Tungsten Project in Nevada, US.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Main image: Viking Mines
