Western Star Resources (CSE:WSR) has announced that preparations are underway to mobilise its first modern exploration program at the Rowland Tungsten Property in Elko, Nevada, US.
The property is part of a past-producing project and has key infrastructure in place including an access road.
Rowland has historical production of over 1,000 tonnes of ore containing up to 3.38% tungsten trioxide, produced from 1943 to 1956.
Since acquiring the property in Q4 2025, Western Star has compiled all historic data, completed a LiDAR review to identify historic mining, and undertaken a local and regional geological assessment of the property.
Historical mapping shows southwest-northeast trending faults and central thrust fault across the property, but the company requires a high resolution UAV magnetic survey to fully interpret the ground.
Western Star will launch a survey with 50m line spacing to refine the structural interpretation, map intrusive contacts, and identify additional skarn targets at Rowland.
Geochemical sampling on all historic areas identified through LiDAR analysis will focus on verifying historic grades, defining mineralised zones, and establishing vectors toward higher-grade mineralisation.
Soil sampling will also be conducted to determine the effectiveness of soil geochemistry prior to the company potentially undertaking a larger-scale survey.
This work is all designed to help advance the project towards the drill targeting stage around zones of high-grade tungsten and comes at a time of strong tungsten prices.
CEO Blake Morgan notes that the positive tungsten prices aligning with the start of the spring field season is beneficial for Western Star.
“Since acquiring the project, tungsten prices have experienced a meteoric rise in value moving from $600 range to as high as $2,400, underpinning the tremendous potential of Western Star’s past producing tungsten property; which our team has compiled historical data and identified numerous workings, including shafts, adits, trenches, and open pits that were the source of past production,” Morgan says.
“Confirming and sampling these areas is a key priority as we look to validate the high-grade nature of the mineralisation and advance the project toward drilling.
“The company also has numerous LOI and exclusivity rights on other past producing tungsten assets.”
Western Star Resources is an exploration and development company focused on delivering shareholder value through the development of exploration properties, acquisitions, and partnerships.
Write to Amy Rotman at Mining.com.au
Images: Western Star
