Viking Mines Hits 18m at 0.42% WO₃ as Linka Tungsten Zone Extends Deeper
Key Takeaways
- Viking Mines' second batch of Linka RC drilling results confirms 18m at 0.42% WO₃ from 62m (LKRC0005) and 13m at 0.46% WO₃ from 70m (LKRC0006), both running in line with the historic Linka Mine's operating grade of ~0.49% WO₃.
- Five consecutive holes at Linka Main (LKRC0002 through LKRC0006) have now all returned significant tungsten mineralisation, supporting interpretation of a continuous mineralised zone from near-surface to below the historic workings.
- Seven holes remain pending assay with results expected mid-October, including LKRC0016 and LKRC0017 which have already logged 9.9m and 12.2m of visible scheelite respectively under UV light — the same field method that accurately predicted all four holes in this release.
- A nearby US$150–175M joint venture on the Springer Tungsten Mine in Nevada, announced 14 September 2026 by Blue Moon Metals, EQ Resources, and The Elmet Group, signals institutional-scale capital is being directed at Nevada tungsten assets in the same belt as Linka.
- The US REEShore Act mandates Chinese-free tungsten in military supply chains from December 2026, creating near-term demand for domestically sourced supply that directly benefits Nevada-based tungsten projects like Linka.
Thick tungsten intercepts confirmed above and below Linka’s historic workings
Viking Mines (ASX: VKA) has released the second batch of assay results from its maiden reverse circulation (RC) drilling programme at the Linka Tungsten Project in Nevada, USA, confirming thick zones of tungsten mineralisation both above and below the historic Linka Mine workings.
The two headline intercepts are:
- LKRC0005: 18m at 0.42% WO₃ from 62m (estimated true width ~16m), including 3m at 0.75% WO₃
- LKRC0006: 13m at 0.46% WO₃ from 70m (estimated true width ~11m), including 4m at 0.70% WO₃
Shallower holes LKRC0003 and LKRC0004 confirmed mineralisation up-dip, closer to surface, returning 6m at 0.21% WO₃ from 16m and 6m at 0.46% WO₃ from 14m respectively. Peak individual 1m samples graded up to 1.02% WO₃. Seven additional holes remain pending assay, expected mid-October, including LKRC0016 (9.9m visible scheelite) and LKRC0017 (12.2m visible scheelite).
Julian Woodcock, Managing Director and CEO
“…LKRC0005 and LKRC0006 were drilled to test below the historic workings, and both have returned thick intervals of tungsten mineralisation at grades comparable to those mined at Linka through the 1950’s. Just as importantly, the shallow holes above the historic stopes have also returned mineralisation. Together with the 14m at 0.56% WO₃ in LKRC0002, these results further support a continuous zone of mineralisation extending from near surface to below the depth the historic miners reached, exactly as predicted by our 3D geological model…”
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Results table — significant intercepts, LKRC0003 to LKRC0006
The table below summarises the four reported holes from Table 1 in the announcement. All intervals are downhole lengths; estimated true widths as stated.
| Hole ID | From (m) | Interval (m) | Est. True Width (m) | WO₃ % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LKRC0003 | 16 | 6 | 5 | 0.21% |
| LKRC0004 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 0.46% |
| LKRC0005 | 62 | 18 | 16 | 0.42% |
| including | 73 | 3 | 2.7 | 0.75% |
| LKRC0006 | 70 | 13 | 11 | 0.46% |
| including | 70 | 4 | 3.4 | 0.70% |
What is tungsten skarn mineralisation — and why does it matter?
Tungsten mineralisation at Linka occurs as scheelite, the primary tungsten-bearing mineral, hosted within tactite (skarn). Skarn forms at the contact zone between limestone and an intrusive granite body, which is precisely the geological setting at Linka.
A key property of scheelite is that it fluoresces under shortwave UV light at 254nm, allowing geologists to visually identify and log mineralised intervals in the field while drilling, before laboratory results are available. Viking’s field team uses this method across every hole in the programme.
A few key facts for investors new to this commodity:
- WO₃ % (tungsten trioxide percentage) is the industry-standard measure of tungsten grade — it represents the percentage of tungsten trioxide contained per tonne of ore
- The historic Linka Mine operated at approximately 0.49% WO₃; the current intercepts are consistent with that benchmark
- Laboratory results from ALS in Reno, Nevada have now confirmed what UV logging detected in the field across all four holes in this release, validating the company’s field methodology
This correlation between field logging and assay outcomes matters because it reduces the uncertainty around pending results. When the UV tool says mineralisation is present, the assays are confirming it — which gives investors greater confidence that the 7 holes currently awaiting results will follow the same pattern.
The field-to-assay correlation now confirmed across LKRC0003 to LKRC0006 echoes what geologists observed when visible scheelite in earlier Linka drilling was subsequently validated by laboratory results, establishing UV logging as a reliable real-time indicator across the programme.
Drilling programme update and Nevada’s emerging tungsten corridor
20 holes drilled, programme resumes mid-October
As at 22 September 2026, Viking had drilled 20 RC holes across three areas at the Linka Project: 14 holes around the Linka Main pit and workings, 4 holes at the southwest extension (including one abandoned hole), and 2 regional exploratory holes.
The drill contractor has temporarily demobilised for rig maintenance and a crew break, with the rig scheduled to return to site mid-October 2026 to complete the programme. Viking is using the pause to update its 3D geological model with the assay results received and to plan additional holes where warranted.
The company’s near-term workstreams include:
- Pending assays for the remaining holes, with the next batch expected mid-October
- Resumption and completion of the maiden RC drilling programme across Linka Main, the southwest extension, and regional target areas
- Update of the 3D geological model with assay results to refine targeting for remaining holes
- Ongoing metallurgical testwork on samples from Conquest, Hillside, and Linka Stockpile
- Second round of ore sorting testwork with TOMRA
- Identification of toll treatment options for the approved 900t bulk sample
Nearby US$150–175M JV signals strategic value of Nevada tungsten
On 14 September 2026, Blue Moon Metals (TSX-V: MOON) announced a joint venture with The Elmet Group and EQ Resources (ASX: EQR) to invest US$150M–US$175M on the Springer Tungsten Mine in Nevada. Springer is located approximately 190 miles from Linka, in the same state and the same tungsten belt.
This is a third-party transaction and does not involve Viking, but it represents a significant data point for investors in the Nevada tungsten space. Institutional capital at that scale, directed specifically at Nevada tungsten assets, signals the strategic and commercial importance that the broader market is assigning to this jurisdiction.
Context that amplifies this signal: tungsten is designated a critical mineral, and the US REEShore Act mandates Chinese-free tungsten in US military supply chains from December 2026. That creates near-term demand for domestically sourced supply, and Nevada’s existing tungsten infrastructure is central to that conversation.
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Results build the case for a continuous ore zone at Linka
Five holes at Linka Main (LKRC0002 to LKRC0006) have now all returned significant tungsten mineralisation. That includes the previously reported 14m at 0.56% WO₃ in LKRC0002, and now the four holes detailed in this release.
The geological conclusion the company draws from this cumulative picture is that results support interpretation of a continuous mineralised zone from near-surface to below the historic workings, consistent with the predictions of Viking’s 3D geological model. The project’s three historic mines produced approximately 65,000 tonnes at ~0.5% WO₃; the current intercepts are running in line with that grade profile.
The next material catalyst is the mid-October assay batch, covering 7 pending holes at Linka Main. Two of those holes (LKRC0016 and LKRC0017) have already logged 9.9m and 12.2m of visible scheelite respectively under UV light. If the field-to-assay correlation seen in LKRC0003 through LKRC0006 holds, those pending results could further extend the interpreted mineralised zone and provide additional data to support a future mineral resource estimate.
For investors wanting to understand the market forces driving urgency at the project level, our deep-dive into Linka’s development trajectory and tungsten price tailwinds examines how record prices and the critical mineral designation are reshaping the commercial case for Nevada tungsten assets.
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