Viking Mines finds high-grade tungsten in Nevada waste dumps

Viking Mines Ltd reported that sampling of historic waste dumps at its Linka tungsten project in Nevada uncovered high-grade material, with assays reaching up to 1.8% tungsten trioxide (WO3) and an average of 0.5% across ten samples. The company says the discarded rock, left from 1950s mining, is now a candidate for modern sensor‑based ore‑sorting technology that can separate mineralised rock from waste.

The discovery aligns with the United States' push to shore up domestic supplies of critical minerals. Washington has recently pledged $1.28 billion in lending support for Australian‑listed rare‑earth firms and is encouraging on‑shoring of strategic supply chains to reduce dependence on China. Viking Mines’ results highlight the potential to revive old dump material as a domestic source of tungsten, a metal designated as critical for defence and industrial applications.