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Highlights
- Viking Mines has reported high-grade Tungsten Oxide assays from four metallurgical samples at the Linka Project in Nevada.
- Assay results ranged from 0.8% to 1.3% WO₃, with a weighted average grade of 1.0% WO₃.
- The results confirm the high-grade nature of scheelite mineralisation at Linka.
- Sighter metallurgical testwork has commenced to establish a flowsheet for producing a scheelite concentrate.
- The Linka Project is one of six U.S.-based tungsten projects currently being acquired by Viking Mines.
Viking Mines Limited (ASX:VKA) shares surged 12.5% to trade at AUD 0.009 on 14 January after the company announced high-grade Tungsten Oxide (WO₃) assay results from four metallurgical samples collected at its Linka Tungsten Project in Nevada, USA. The latest results confirmed the presence of high-grade scheelite mineralisation at Linka, one of six U.S.-based tungsten projects currently being acquired by Viking.
High-Grade WO₃ Assays from Linka Samples
The four metallurgical samples, totalling 295 kilograms, were collected during a due diligence site visit to the Linka Project. The samples were sent to Base Met Labs in Arizona, where preparation was completed and head assay results were returned.
Assay results ranged from 0.8% to 1.3% WO₃ and weighted average across the samples collected is 1.0% WO3.
Scheelite Mineralisation Confirmed Across Multiple Locations
The results validate the high-grade nature of scheelite mineralisation at Linka, which is one of six tungsten projects currently being acquired by Viking in the United States. Scheelite mineralisation has been visually confirmed under ultraviolet light at a wavelength of 254 nanometres, with responses observed in samples from the Linka Open Pit and Hillside Shaft areas.
The four samples were sourced from different locations, including a coarse ore stockpile, the Hillside Shaft entrance, the Conquest Open Pit, and the Linka Open Pit. This spread of sampling locations further supports the presence of widespread high-grade tungsten mineralisation across the Linka Project.
Sighter Testwork Commences to Develop Processing Flowsheet
Sighter metallurgical testwork has commenced on the collected samples as the company works to establish a processing flowsheet aimed at producing a scheelite concentrate.
The commencement of metallurgical testing comes at a time when global pricing for scheelite concentrates is at all-time highs, with 25%–30% grade material priced at USD 937 per metric tonne unit.
Advancing Linka Project and U.S. Tungsten Strategy
Viking is continuing to advance metallurgical testwork at the Linka Project. Planned activities include developing a metallurgical testwork flowsheet, conducting sighter metallurgical testwork on the Linka Pit sample (LKMET0004) and initiating high-resolution aerial surveys. The company also plans to engage geophysical contractors to undertake gravity and magnetic surveys, source and assess historical data, and evaluate assays from additional due diligence field sampling.
Drill hole planning is also underway to support the submission of a Notice of Intent to federal agencies, required to secure drilling permits. In parallel, the company continues to evaluate the other five tungsten projects included in its U.S. acquisition strategy.
