Viking Mines (ASX:VKA) reports visual scheelite intercepts from its maiden drilling program at the Linka Tungsten Project in Nevada, US.
The company intersected multiple zones of disseminated scheelite mineralisation hosted in tactite over significant widths during the first drilling at Linka in 40 years. Geologists identified scheelite visually through its distinctive fluorescence under shortwave ultraviolet light at a 254-nanometre wavelength.
Key visual intercepts include 12m of continuous scheelite from 40m downhole in LKRC0002, with estimated abundance ranging 0.1–3%. Hole LKRC0003 returned a combined 13m of visible scheelite over a 19m horizon from 9m downhole, while LKRC0004 intersected 11m over a 21m horizon from 3m downhole.
Managing Director Julian Woodcock says the visual results are ‘encouraging and consistent’ with the company’s geological model.
“Being on the ground at Linka observing our maiden RC drilling program with the chip trays lighting up under the UV lamp hole after hole, as predicted by our 3D geological model, is as good as it gets prior to assays,” Woodcock adds.
“These initial visual mineralisation intercepts are highly encouraging and show multiple zones of strong disseminated scheelite mineralisation hosted in tactite over significant widths.”
Scheelite is the most important natural tungsten mineral for downstream production, with a typical grade of approximately 80.5% tungsten trioxide (WO3). The company cautions that visual estimates should not be considered a proxy for laboratory analyses.
The first samples are being prepared for dispatch to ALS Laboratories in Reno, with assay results expected in four to six weeks. The drilling program continues while awaiting results.
Viking signed a binding term sheet in December 2025 to acquire 100% of the Linka Project, which comprises three historically producing tungsten mines.
Those mines produced approximately 65,000 tonnes @ 0.5% WO3 through a 360-tonnes‑per‑day mill until 1956, when operations ceased due to tungsten prices rather than geological reasons.
The project benefits from existing infrastructure including a 46m shaft, historic pits and underground workings, an on‑site run‑of‑mine pad, and a historical tailings dam. Recent metallurgical test work produced a 56.9% WO3 concentrate at 76% recovery using conventional gravity and flotation.
Tungsten is designated a critical mineral in the US, and the REEShore Act mandates Chinese‑free tungsten in US military supply chains from December 2026 — positioning Linka for a potential near‑term domestic restart.
Viking Mines is a Perth-based explorer advancing a portfolio of battery metals and gold projects in Western Australia, including the Canegrass Battery Minerals and Riverina East Gold projects, alongside its US tungsten assets.
Write to JC Villarba at Mining.com.au
Images: Viking Mines
