Viking Mines (ASX:VKA) | OTC:VKALF) has formally lodged a notice of intent (NOI) with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), its final federal regulatory requirement for launching its 63-hole maiden drill program at the Linka Tungsten Project in Nevada, US.
The program is the first exploration drilling to be conducted in over 40 years at the past-producing tungsten asset, with the goal of bringing it back into production to help supply the US market. The drilling is scheduled ahead of the December 2026 deadline of the REEShore Act mandate, which bans Chinese tungsten from US military supply chains.
Managing Director Julian Woodcock says that the NOI marks the company’s transition as it begins sub-surface exploration.
“This 63-hole program targets near-surface opportunities and the ~800m southwest extension, building a growth pipeline in a strategic US tungsten district,” Woodcock says.
“We are in the final stages of contractor selection and remain on track for mobilisation in June.”
The drill program will focus on three main technical objectives to test the scale of the Linka system and confirm the high-grade nature of historical results.
At Linka Main, the company is focused on confirming historical drilling intercepts and conducting close-spaced testing for near-surface mineralisation.
At Linka Southwest, Viking will test for extensions of the Main mineralisation system across four sections spaced 125m to 150m apart.
Finally, reconnaissance drilling will investigate the extent of the regional intrusive through magnetic and gravity geophysics, to define the contact positions where mineralisation typically occurs. Viking notes that this is an essential first step to identify new mineralised zones for follow-up.
Viking is expecting to receive all approvals in May 2026 and is in the final process of securing a drilling contractor.
Once all necessary approvals are received, the company plans to mobilise to the site in the June 2026 quarter to prepare the drill pads and complete earthworks.
Viking Mines is advancing a portfolio of tungsten projects in Nevada, with a view to being a source of supply for the US market.
Write to Amy Rotman at Mining.com.au
Images: Viking Mines
