Western Star Resources Inc. has acquired three former tungsten mines across Nevada and New Mexico to bolster domestic critical mineral supplies. The company plans to launch its first drilling program at the Eagle Point site in 2026.
The 27.6% WO3 Potential at Eagle Point
The Eagle Point project in New Mexico represents a primary target for Western Star Resources due to its historical productivity.. According to the source report, surface sampling from the USGS and the New Mexico Bureau of Geology has revealed grades as high as 27.6% WO3. While the site previously shipped roughly 1 ,800 tons of scheelite-bearing material, it has never undergone systematic drilling.
Historical U.S. Government estimates suggest the Eagle Point system may contain between 100,000 and 200,000 tons of scheelite-bearing material . the company has identified eight mapped skarn bodies at the surface, which will serve as the primary targets for the upcoming 2026 exploration phase to determine if these deposits can be scaled for modern industrial needs.
Rowland's One-Kilometre Geochemical Corridor
In Nevada, Western Star Resources has established a six-kilometre prospective exploration corridor encompassing the Rowland and White Star projects. The company has already utilized high-resolution UAV geophysical surveys and geochemical sampling to map the area. At the Rowland site specifically, a one-kilometre tungsten-skarn geochemical corridor has been identified.
Peak soil samples at the Rowland project returned approximately 1,425 ppm WO3,which is equivalent to about 0.14% WO3.. As the report says, this discovery complements the historical data from New Mexico, suggesting that the company's Nevada holdings possess significant mineral potential that remains untapped by modern mining techniques.
Breaking China's 80% Grip on Global Tungsten
The strategic drive behind Western Star Resources' acquisitions is rooted in a global supply chain crisis. China currently controls approximately 80% of the world's tungsten production, a concentration of power that has prompted the U.S. Department of Defense to ban the procurement of tungsten from Chinese sources. This geopolitical tension has created a widening gap between domestic U.S. production and the demand required for defense and high-tech manufacturing.
To align itself with national security interests, Western Star Resources has submitted an application to the U.S. Defense Industrial Base Consortium. This move is intended to secure federal validation for the company's thesis that domestic tungsten can be reliably produced in the U.S., potentially transforming these three projects into cornerstones of American supply security.
C$3.69 Million and the 2026 Drilling Timeline
To fund these operations, Western Star Resources closed an oversubscribed private placement that raised C$3.69 million. These funds are earmarked for technical work across all three sites and the preparation of the 2026 drilling program at Eagle Point. The company has also engaged Dahrouge Geological Consulting to merge historical mining data with modern datasets to refine their drilling targets.
Despite the clear roadmap, several critical variables remain unresolved. while the company is moving forward, the following points remain unverified or unknown:
- The specific timeline and likelihood of approval for the drill permits currently pending at the Rowland site.
- The exact response or level of support the U.S. Defense Industrial Base Consortium will provide following the company's application.
- Whether the C$3.69 million raised will be sufficient to cover the full scope of the 2026 program or if further capital raises will be required.
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