Lightning Minerals Advances Warby Tungsten Toward First Drill Program With Phase 3 Sampling
Key Takeaways
- Lightning Minerals has commenced Phase 3 infill and extension soil sampling at Warby, with the first 162 samples already dispatched to ALS Laboratory in Townsville and assays expected in October 2026.
- Phase 2 results confirmed tungsten anomalies remain open in four directions — north-east, south-west, north, and west — making Phase 3 the critical bridge between surface geochemistry and ranked drill targets.
- Seven rock chip samples of wolframite/scheelite quartz vein and wall rock have been shipped to UNSW for petrological and mineralogical study, adding scientific depth to the geological model ahead of drilling.
- China controls approximately 80% of processed tungsten production, and recent export restrictions have tightened global supply — positioning Warby's North Queensland location as strategically significant for Western supply chains.
- The October 2026 assay results represent the next material catalyst, with maiden drill program target selection expected to follow once Phase 3 results and the UNSW study are integrated into the geological model.
Phase 3 soil sampling begins at Warby as Lightning Minerals homes in on maiden drill targets
Lightning Minerals (ASX: L1M) has commenced Phase 3 infill and extension soil sampling at its 100%-owned Warby Tungsten Project in North Queensland, marking the next deliberate step in a systematic exploration sequence building toward a maiden drill program. The first 162 soil samples have been dispatched to ALS Laboratory in Townsville, with assays expected in October 2026, while a further 100 samples are currently being collected.
Samples were collected at 25-metre spacing along infill and extension lines spaced 125 metres apart — a disciplined grid designed to progressively convert surface geochemistry into ranked drill targets. The dispatch of the first batch is a tangible, measurable milestone in that process.
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What Phase 3 is designed to achieve
Phase 3 was initiated immediately following receipt of Phase 2 reconnaissance soil and panned concentrate results, which indicated that the known quartz-wolframite veins form part of a broader vein swarm and a larger mineralised footprint than the historical workings alone suggested. The program is specifically designed to infill and extend the Phase 2 soil grid, where tungsten anomalies remain open to the north-east, south-west, north and west. Delineating these anomalies is the critical bridge between surface geochemistry and ranked drill targets.
The tungsten mineralisation at Warby was first identified through early reconnaissance work that traced wolframite-bearing quartz veins across the Lyndbrook Complex, establishing the geological basis that subsequent phased sampling programs have been systematically building upon.
Four activities underway right now
- Collection of 162 soil samples at 25-metre spacing along infill and extension lines spaced 125 metres apart
- Sample screening and shipment of samples to ALS Laboratory in Townsville
- Shipment of seven rock chip samples of wolframite/scheelite quartz vein and wall rock to the University of New South Wales (UNSW) for petrological and mineralogical study
- Collection of a further 100 soil samples currently in progress
The UNSW petrological study is designed to better characterise the tungsten mineralisation at Warby. This is a science-led approach to understanding the system — not just mapping its surface footprint, but interpreting the geology behind it.
Troy Brice, Managing Director
“Phase 3 is about defining how far the Warby system extends. Our Phase 2 soils showed tungsten anomalies that remain open in multiple directions, and this infill and extension program is designed to refine and sharpen our targeting ahead of a maiden drill program. With the first 162 samples now at the laboratory and a further 100 being collected presently, we look forward to updating shareholders as results are received. Tungsten is increasingly recognised as a strategic critical mineral, and Warby’s location in North Queensland positions Lightning well in that context.”
Why tungsten matters — and why Warby’s location is strategically significant
Tungsten has the highest melting point of any metal and is one of the hardest materials used in industry. That combination makes it essential in cutting tools, drill bits, aerospace alloys, armour-piercing munitions, and advanced manufacturing.
For most of these applications, there is no practical substitute. That irreplaceability is precisely why several Western governments classify tungsten as a critical mineral — and why it carries strategic weight well beyond its relatively modest market profile.
Supply concentration adds a further dimension to that picture. China controls approximately 80% of processed tungsten production. Market commentators note that its recent export restrictions have tightened global supply, prompting industry and governments to actively seek alternative sources from stable Western jurisdictions.
That structural supply problem is now acute, and new tungsten discoveries in Tier-1 jurisdictions like Queensland are sitting at the centre of it. Warby is one of them.
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What comes next for Lightning Minerals at Warby
The path from here to a maiden drill program follows a clear sequence of steps, each building directly on the last:
- Receive and interpret Phase 3 soil assays (expected October 2026) and complete collection of the further 100 soil samples
- Integrate UNSW petrological and mineralogical results into the Warby geological model
- Assess additional panned concentrate drainage sampling across the broader Lyndbrook Complex, particularly along the 13-kilometre Angore Granite contact and areas where NW structures cross the permissive terrain
- Acquire and interpret LiDAR data to assist in delineating concealed historical workings, detailed structural analysis, and reducing follow-up sampling costs
- Rank and prioritise targets for trenching and a maiden drill program
The October 2026 assay results will be the next material catalyst. Drill program target selection is expected to follow once Phase 3 results and the UNSW petrological study have been integrated into the geological model.
| Phase | Key Activity | Status | Next Milestone |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phase 2 | Reconnaissance soil and panned concentrate sampling; high-grade rock chip results | Complete | Results confirmed open tungsten anomalies; informed Phase 3 design |
| Phase 3 | Infill and extension soil sampling (162 samples dispatched; 100 in progress); UNSW petrological study | Underway | Assay results expected October 2026 |
| Post-Phase 3 | Target ranking and prioritisation; LiDAR acquisition; drainage sampling assessment | Planned | Maiden drill program target selection |
The company has stated it will provide shareholders with further market updates as Phase 3 results are received.
Lightning Minerals is running parallel exploration programs across its Queensland portfolio, with the Mt Turner drilling campaign advancing gold targets at the same time the company is systematically building toward maiden drilling at Warby.
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