Perpetual Resources Expands Nevada Tungsten Project 15x With 62 New Claims
Key Takeaways
- Perpetual Resources has physically staked 62 new lode mining claims adding 1,272 acres to its Nevada Scheelite Tungsten Project, expanding the total footprint to more than 15 times the original patented claim area.
- The historic Nevada Scheelite mine produced approximately 328,747 short ton units of WO₃ at an average grade of 1.1% WO₃ between 1937 and 1957, providing a high-grade brownfields foundation for the expanded land position.
- On 14 September 2026, the US Department of War committed $450 million to The Elmet Group to expand domestic tungsten supply, with approximately US$150 million directed at the Springer Tungsten Complex in Nevada — signalling the policy environment in which Nevada Scheelite now operates.
- A maiden drilling programme is targeted to commence in late CY2026, subject to permitting and rig availability, with 3D geological modelling and soil geochemistry across the expanded claims as the immediate precursors.
- The new claims have been recorded with Mineral County and will be filed with the US Bureau of Land Management within the statutory 90-day period, after which BLM serial numbers will be issued.
Nevada Scheelite grows 15x as Perpetual stakes 62 new tungsten claims in Nevada
Perpetual Resources has completed the physical staking of 62 new lode mining claims surrounding its Nevada Scheelite Tungsten Project in Mineral County, Nevada, adding 1,272 acres and expanding the project’s exploration footprint to more than 15 times the size of the original patented claim area. The new claims have been recorded with Mineral County and will be filed with the US Bureau of Land Management (BLM) within the statutory 90-day period, after which BLM serial numbers will be issued.
For a company that originally acquired Nevada Scheelite as a high-grade brownfields asset, this low-cost staking exercise materially changes the scale of what is now a potential district-scale tungsten opportunity.
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From historic mine to district-scale tungsten opportunity
Nevada Scheelite is not a greenfields exploration punt. The historic mine produced approximately 328,747 short ton units of WO₃ at an average grade of approximately 1.1% WO₃ between 1937 and 1957, establishing it as a significant US tungsten producer. It also carries documented US Government involvement, including US Bureau of Mines work during 1943–1944 and subsequent Government-supported exploration under DMEA program 4165, reflecting the historical strategic importance placed on domestic tungsten supply.
The expanded land position creates two complementary pathways for Perpetual:
The tungsten skarn at Nevada Scheelite was confirmed through surface mapping and site visit work that identified scheelite mineralisation in outcrop, providing the geological context underpinning the current expansion of the claim position.
- Evaluation and validation of historically reported high-grade tungsten mineralisation within and around the historic mine
- Systematic exploration of the expanded claim position for additional tungsten mineralisation and potential satellite or complementary targets
It is important to note that no inference can currently be made regarding the presence, grade, continuity or economic significance of tungsten mineralisation within the newly staked claims.
The historical drill intercepts from the existing project area provide context for the brownfields foundation underpinning this expansion. These are previously reported results, not new drill results from this announcement:
| Hole ID | From (m) | Interval (m) | Grade (% WO₃) | Source Announcement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G-17 | 14m | 8.2m | 2.40% WO₃ | 17 June 2026 |
| 5-DH-02 | 5.55m | 7.01m | 1.95% WO₃ | 31 August 2026 |
| 5-DH-07 | 8.84m | 5.49m | 1.54% WO₃ | 31 August 2026 |
| 4-DH-11 | 28.35m | 7.59m | 1.50% WO₃ | 31 August 2026 |
| Hole 10 | 78m | 4.0m | 1.34% WO₃ | 17 June 2026 |
| C (1st intercept) | 48m | 6.1m | 1.31% WO₃ | 17 June 2026 |
| 5-DH-09 | 14.87m | 8.60m | 1.10% WO₃ | 31 August 2026 |
| Hole 12 | 40m | 16.8m | 0.89% WO₃ | 17 June 2026 |
| C (2nd intercept) | Surface | 18.9m | 0.63% WO₃ | 17 June 2026 |
Executive Chairman Julian Babarczy framed the significance of the expansion in plain terms:
Julian Babarczy, Executive Chairman
“The addition of these 62 claims significantly changes the potential scale of Nevada Scheelite. We retain the advantages of a historically high-grade brownfields tungsten project, while now securing a much broader land position covering interpreted extensions and prospective parallel trends that have seen limited modern exploration.”
Why tungsten, and why now — the US supply chain context
Tungsten is a naturally occurring metal classified as a critical mineral by the US Government. Its combination of exceptional hardness and the highest melting point of any metal makes it indispensable in defence applications, industrial cutting tools, electronics, and energy infrastructure. Scheelite (WO₃) is one of the primary ore minerals from which tungsten is extracted.
The strategic concern is straightforward: the US has placed significant emphasis on establishing secure domestic tungsten supply, a priority that has become a live policy issue.
On 14 September 2026, the US Department of War announced a $450 million committed investment in The Elmet Group to expand domestic tungsten mining, processing and manufacturing capacity. Approximately US$150 million of that commitment is directed at the Springer Tungsten Complex in Nevada. This is third-party context illustrating the policy environment in which Nevada Scheelite sits — it is not a direct benefit to Perpetual.
What it does signal is that US Government agencies, strategic investors, project financiers and downstream offtake counterparties are actively prioritising domestically sourced tungsten supply. Perpetual’s announcement notes that demonstrating credible potential for a larger-scale US tungsten project is expected to enhance Nevada Scheelite’s strategic relevance in its ongoing engagement with these counterparties. A district-scale project simply carries more weight in those conversations than a single historic mine footprint.
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What comes next for Nevada Scheelite
Perpetual is advancing a coordinated work programme across both the historic mine and the expanded claim position. The near-term steps are sequenced as follows:
- Complete 3D geological modelling and integration of historical drilling, underground mine plans and LiDAR data, with initial outputs expected in the coming weeks
- Plan and undertake a widespread soil geochemistry programme across the expanded claim position to test interpreted strike extensions and prospective parallel trends
- Integrate the expanded claim position and regional exploration results into the developing geological model
- Identify and prioritise drill targets across both the historic mine area and the broader claim position
- Plan the maiden drilling programme, targeted to commence in late CY2026, subject to permitting and rig availability
The company also notes that the substantially expanded US tungsten position is expected to enhance the project’s strategic relevance in its ongoing engagement with potential government, strategic funding, financing and offtake counterparties. The maiden drilling programme, once permitting and rig availability are confirmed, represents the next material catalyst investors will be watching for.
For investors exploring the full breadth of Perpetual’s asset base beyond Nevada, our full explainer on Perpetual’s Brazil lithium and caesium results covers the high-grade lithium and caesium findings from the company’s Brazilian programme alongside the tungsten work, providing a consolidated view of the multi-commodity portfolio.
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