Viking geophysics map giant tungsten targets in Nevada

Viking Mines says its expanded geophysical survey has recently revealed a much bigger intrusive system at its Linka tungsten project in Nevada in the US, than was first believed. The revelation has set the stage for a better-informed June-quarter drilling campaign with plenty of blue-sky punch.

The main goal of the survey was to search beyond known surface mineralisation to identify the boundaries of the inferred source intrusion and its contacts with the enclosing sedimentary host rocks.

The company’s deeper dive sub-surface using high-resolution ground magnetics has outlined a possible tungsten-bearing intrusion estimated at two kilometres wide, with its surrounding contact zone – the key mineralisation trap – stretching for more than seven kilometres.

The size of the contact zone is important because tungsten skarn-style mineralisation typically forms where a hot, fluid-rich intrusive body meets the enclosing carbonate-rich limestone geology.

‘We are now finalising drill positions to test both the southern continuation from Linka.’

Viking Mines managing director and chief executive officer Julian Woodcock

Viking says historical mining and drilling have long proven the presence of tungsten mineralisation on the eastern flank of the intrusive structure.

However, with only 11 per cent of the interpreted contact outcropping at surface, up to 89 per cent of the remaining prospective contact zone remains hidden and untested.

An additional standout result from Viking’s new geophysical interpretation is the definition of a southern extension to the Linka Main tungsten deposit beneath the obscuring cover of the Bates Mountain Volcanics, the dominant surface cover in the immediate area.

The new ground magnetics have effectively seen through that cover to map the likely intrusive contact, giving Viking a fresh, laterally extensive, high-conviction drill target.

The recent work follows on from the company’s phase-one gravity and magnetics survey reported earlier this month, which showed gravity highs coinciding with known mineralisation at its Linka and Conquest deposits.

The combined surveys have defined an 820-metre-long mineralised corridor and a further 800-metre-long strike of prospective contact under cover.

Viking Mines managing director and chief executive officer Julian Woodcock said: “We have effectively established a strong insight into the Linka Project. These results indicate that what we previously considered the ‘Project’ is just the eastern flank of a much larger intrusive system. With the historical mines and drilling confirming mineralisation on the eastern flank, the discovery potential across the remaining ~89% of the contact is immense.”

Viking has also trialled a gradient array induced polarisation (GAIP) survey at Conquest, with remaining datasets now being processed to feed into 3-D modelling before finalising drilling sites for its next campaign.

Whilst its geologists sharpen the drill plan, Viking has also been ticking off other key developments.

The company recently brought in Mineral Technologies to scope a processing concept study, including modular gravity separation options for the tungsten mineral scheelite. It has also teamed up with global consultancy WSP to kick off baseline environmental and water studies to smooth the project’s permitting pathway.

With tungsten prices currently on fire at US$2650 per metric tonne unit (MTU) - equal to 10 kilograms of tungsten trioxide - and firmly in the US critical minerals spotlight, Viking’s potentially large-scale Nevada tungsten play could be landing right when it matters most.

Viking says it is finalising the locations for its proposed drilling to test the southern continuation from Linka, while also putting in first-pass traverses to confirm the full extent of the interpreted intrusion beneath the volcanic cover.

If the upcoming drilling confirms the untested targets already picked up around the big intrusive contact by its geophysics, Viking could be lining up for a solid run at a commodity the market can’t seem to get enough of right now.

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