Viking Mines Hits 14m at 0.56% Tungsten Beneath Historic Nevada Mine Workings
Key Takeaways
- Maiden drill hole LKRC0002 at Linka returned 14m at 0.56% WO3 from 40m downhole, including a high-grade 5m interval at 0.81% WO3, with individual 1m samples reaching 1.18% WO3.
- The intercept sits 38m vertically below surface and directly confirms tungsten mineralisation extends beneath the historic Linka Mine workings, consistent with the recorded historic production grade of approximately 0.49% WO3.
- Visual scheelite logging at the rig estimated a 12m interval versus the 14m assayed result, validating the shortwave UV logging method and enabling faster, more confident real-time drilling decisions across the remaining programme.
- US defence procurement restrictions on tungsten sourced from covered countries take effect 1 January 2027, creating a hard policy deadline that directly incentivises domestic Nevada tungsten supply at Linka's grade profile.
- Assay results for LKRC0003 and subsequent holes are expected mid to late September 2026, with 16 RC holes now completed and logging ongoing across the Linka Main pit, regional targets, and southwest extension.
Maiden drilling confirms tungsten beneath historic Linka workings
Viking Mines has delivered a strong first result from its maiden reverse circulation (RC) drilling programme at the Linka Tungsten Project in Nevada, USA. LKRC0002, the first hole drilled into the historic Linka Mine area, returned 14m at 0.56% WO3 from 40m downhole (estimated true width approximately 9m), including 5m at 0.81% WO3 from 47m, with individual 1m samples grading up to 1.18% WO3.
The intercept sits approximately 38m vertically below surface, directly down dip of the historic mined stope, confirming that tungsten mineralisation extends beneath the previously mined workings. Results are consistent with the recorded historic production grade at Linka of approximately 0.49% WO3, lending credibility to the historical mining record. Assays were returned by ALS Laboratories in Reno, Nevada.
Julian Woodcock, Managing Director & CEO
“This is exactly the result we were targeting at Linka. Our first hole into the mine area has returned an excellent 14m at 0.56% WO3 from just 40m downhole, including 5m at 0.81% WO3, yielding grades and widths consistent with those produced by mining through the 1950’s.”
When big ASX news breaks, our subscribers know first
What the assay results reveal
LKRC0002 intercept breakdown
Mineralisation in LKRC0002 is hosted in tactite (skarn), consistent with VKA’s 3D geological model. The intercepts are presented in Table 1 below.
| Hole ID | From (m) | To (m) | Interval (m) | WO3 % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LKRC0002 | 40 | 54 | 14 | 0.56% |
| Including | 47 | 52 | 5 | 0.81% |
Intervals are downhole lengths. Estimated true width approximately 9m above 0.1% WO3 cut-off grade. Source: Table 1, ASX Announcement, 10 September 2026.
Visual logging validated by lab results
Alongside the assay results, laboratory analysis validated VKA’s shortwave UV visual scheelite logging conducted at the rig. The 14m assayed interval matched closely to the 12m visual estimate made during drilling — a meaningful operational confirmation. When grade calls at the rig closely track laboratory results, the Company can make faster, more confident decisions about where to focus drilling as the programme advances. Woodcock noted that “the assays have landed within the range of our visual scheelite estimates, which gives us confidence in the shortwave UV logging calls being made at the rig as the programme advances.”
This strong correlation is a major de-risking milestone for the project, proving that the early visible scheelite logging translates reliably into high-grade laboratory assays.
What is tungsten skarn mineralisation and why does it matter?
Scheelite-bearing skarn forms where granitic intrusive rocks make contact with limestone, triggering chemical reactions that deposit tungsten minerals along the contact zone. This style of mineralisation, known as tactite or skarn, tends to occur in predictable, continuous zones that follow the geometry of the geological contact. VKA’s 3D geological model predicted where LKRC0002 would intersect mineralisation, and the intercept confirmed mineralisation directly beneath the historic workings.
WO3 stands for tungsten trioxide, the standard way grades are reported for tungsten projects. Linka’s historical mill grade of approximately 0.5% WO3 ranks among the highest of comparable global tungsten projects — which is what makes these early drill results particularly relevant for investors.
The strategic context adds another layer of significance:
- Tungsten has been designated a critical mineral by the United States government
- US defence procurement restrictions on tungsten sourced from covered countries take effect from 1 January 2027, creating urgency for domestic supply
- Linka’s historic mill grade of approximately 0.5% WO3 ranks among the highest of comparable global tungsten projects
- Existing site infrastructure includes a 150ft shaft, ROM pad, tailings dam, sealed highway within 7km, and grid power within 4km
- Recent metallurgical testwork produced a 56.9% WO3 concentrate at 76.0% recovery using conventional gravity and flotation
A Nevada-based, near-surface, skarn-hosted tungsten deposit at these grades — with infrastructure already on the ground — is exactly the profile that US domestic supply policy is designed to incentivise.
The next major ASX story will hit our subscribers first
Drilling programme update and what comes next
Programme progress across Linka
As of 9 September 2026, Viking has completed 16 RC drillholes at Linka: 13 around the Linka Main pit and workings, 2 regional exploratory holes, and 1 at the southwest extension. Drilling and geological logging are ongoing.
The regional programme has already produced an encouraging early result. Hole LKRC0013, located 0.35km west of the Linka Main shaft, encountered 4.5m of limestone above the monzonite intrusion — where the pre-drill interpretation had anticipated drilling directly into the intrusion below the younger tuff cover. That distinction matters: the presence of preserved limestone above the intrusion confirms there is a greater extent of limestone in the area than previously modelled, raising the potential for new scheelite mineralisation discovery across the broader intrusive contact.
This growing geological footprint complements the exceptional Nevada tungsten results generated across the wider portfolio, reinforcing the district-scale potential of these skarn systems.
At the southwest extension, hole LKRC0001 was abandoned at approximately 36m due to unexpected cover sequence ground conditions that prevented the hole from reaching its target depth of 120m. The Company has prioritised drilling at the Linka Main pit and intends to return to the southwest extension later in the programme.
Near-term catalysts for investors
The pipeline of upcoming newsflow from Linka is well-defined:
- Assay results for LKRC0003 and subsequent holes, with the next batch expected mid to late September 2026
- Continued RC drilling across the Linka Main pit, southwest extension, and regional targets
- Logging and reporting of visual intercepts from LKRC0005 through LKRC0016
- Metallurgical testwork on ore-sorted products continuing to inform the conceptual process flowsheet
- Delivery of samples to ALS Reno for analysis
Every confirmed metre of mineralisation advances Linka along VKA’s stated pathway toward tungsten production in the USA — with the 1 January 2027 US defence procurement deadline creating a tangible near-term timeline for what domestic tungsten supply could mean in practice.
Don’t Miss the Next Critical Minerals Breakout
Get FREE breaking ASX mining news delivered to your inbox within minutes of release, complete with in-depth analysis already done for you. Join 30,000+ subscribers staying ahead of the market on critical minerals, tungsten, and beyond. Click the “Free Alerts” button at Discovery Alert to start receiving alerts the moment market-moving news breaks.