- 01Linka maiden RC hits scheelite
- 0222m scheelite in 24m horizon from 55m
- 0312.2m from 48.8m also detected
- 04First assay: 14m @0.56% WO3 from 40m; results Sep-Oct
Viking Mines (ASX: VKA) has identified further wide zones of visible scheelite from maiden drilling at its Linka tungsten project in Nevada, extending priority target areas while assays remain pending.
Detailed shortwave ultraviolet logging of reverse circulation drill chips identified a combined 22 metres of visible scheelite across a 24m down-hole horizon from 55m, alongside other broad zones including 12.2m continuous from 48.8m.
True widths are not yet known, with all samples now delivered to the ALS laboratory in Reno for results expected through September and October.
The latest work follows the first assay from the campaign, which returned 14m at 0.56% tungsten trioxide (WO3) from 40m with an estimated true width of 9m.
Multiple Zones at Linka Main
Viking has completed 14 holes at Linka Main, where it reported an 86% rate of encountering visible mineralisation based on drilling completed to date.
The latest logging identified multiple zones of disseminated, coarse-grained scheelite hosted in tactite, or skarn, with additional standout intervals including a combined 10m over a 12m horizon and 9.9m continuous from 58.7m.
Viking geologists identify scheelite through its distinctive fluorescence under shortwave UV light, with the latest visual abundance estimates generally ranging between 0.1% and 1.8% across the reported intervals.
“The drilling is demonstrating the scale of the visually identified mineralisation at Linka and is validating the historical datasets which made this such a compelling project in the first place,” managing director Julian Woodcock said.
“The US tungsten environment is moving quickly, with the government recently restricting the export of tungsten scrap, and this week committing approximately US$150 million towards restarting tungsten production in Nevada—Linka is well positioned in Nevada to be part of that story.”
Open Extension Targets
The broader campaign has completed 20 RC holes, comprising 14 at Linka Main, four at the south-west extension target including one abandoned hole, and two across a regional target.
The drill contractor has temporarily demobilised for rig maintenance and a crew break, with the rig expected back on site in mid-October before drilling resumes on a double-shift basis.
Viking estimates the remaining work will require about two to three weeks at current productivity levels, giving it time to review drill results and plan further holes where warranted.
Alongside drilling and assays, the company is continuing metallurgical test work covering ore sorting and flotation while assessing toll-treatment options for an approved 900-tonne bulk sample intended to generate concentrate for offtake assessment.
The Linka program forms part of Viking’s brownfields restart strategy for a project containing three historically producing tungsten mines, with the current drilling testing extensions to a mineralised system traced through historical workings and exploration data.
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