Viking Mines (ASX:VKA) has resumed reverse circulation (RC) drilling at the Linka Tungsten Project in Nevada, US.
The company logged visible scheelite in the first two RC holes drilled since the rig returned. Hole LKRC0022 returned 14.5m from 16.8m downhole, including a 3m zone from 23.6m. Meanwhile, hole LKRC0021 returned 7.6m from 48.8m.
Viking geologists estimate visual scheelite abundance at 0.1–1.5% in LKRC0022 and 0.1–1% in LKRC0021, with the 3m zone estimated at 0.5–1.5%. The company says the mineralisation sits in tactite (skarn), which previously returned 14m @ 0.56% tungsten trioxide in hole LKRC0002.
Viking has completed 26 holes in the maiden program, including 20 at Linka Main, four at the SW Extension, and two regional holes. Samples from LKRC0021 and LKRC0022 have been sent to the ALS laboratory in Reno, with results expected in six to eight weeks.
The pending seven-hole Linka Main batch includes LKRC0016 and LKRC0017, which logged 9.9m and 12.2m of visible scheelite, respectively. The company expects assays for these holes before the end of the month.
Tungsten is currently trading at US$2,700 ($3,868) per metric tonne unit of tungsten trioxide, according to Fastmarkets.
Managing Director Julian Woodcock notes that the logged scheelite has matched tungsten mineralisation in every assayed hole.
“Every hole assayed so far has returned tungsten mineralisation where our geologists logged scheelite under UV light, which gives us confidence in what we are seeing in these chip trays,” Woodcock says.
Next steps include completing the drilling program, updating the 3D geological model, continuing metallurgical test work — including a second round of ore sorting with TOMRA — and identifying toll treatment options for an approved 900-tonne bulk sample.
Viking Mines has shifted its primary focus to developing tungsten projects in Nevada, US, with a particular emphasis on its flagship Linka Project.
Write to Paula Fabe at Mining.com.au
Main image: Viking Mines
