en.Wedoany.com Reported - Western Star Resources Inc. (CSE: WSR) (OTC: WSRIF) (FRA: 4K2) has announced results from its Phase 1 soil geochemistry program at the Rowland Tungsten Project, located in Elko County, Nevada, USA. The results reveal coherent multi-element tungsten skarn signatures in soils within a structural corridor approximately one kilometer in length, with peak soil tungsten trioxide (WO₃) values reaching 1,425 ppm in the area of a recently rediscovered historical mining zone. Based on these results, the company is organizing an expanded soil program to be launched shortly.
The Phase 1 soil geochemical survey detected WO₃ values up to 0.14% (tungsten content of 1,130 ppm) in soils directly above the historical mining zone. Soil WO₃ values of 517 ppm and 504 ppm were also recorded at the Rowland Main Zone. The soil anomalies closely align with magnetic gradients (i.e., lithological/structural contacts) shown in the company's drone magnetic survey imagery, indicating that soil geochemistry is an effective tool for locating the anticipated skarn contact zones. The tungsten anomalies are also accompanied by key metals including copper (up to 1,185 ppm), molybdenum (up to 35 ppm), bismuth (up to 5.2 ppm), and beryllium (up to 4.56 ppm), confirming the diagnostic signature of a polymetallic skarn.
Blake Morgan, President and CEO of Western Star, stated that this is the first soil geochemical survey ever completed at Rowland by a public company, and the high value of 0.14% WO₃ is an excellent start. The anomalous soil results will provide a baseline for interpreting subsequent expanded soil results. The coincidence of soil anomalies with contact zones mapped by drone magnetics is the strongest vector for next-stage exploration. The expanded soil program aims to extend the known areas around the Rowland Main Zone and the historical mining zone, and to enter untested ground, in order to convert these anomalies into prioritized drill targets.
The Phase 1 soil grid comprised 93 samples at a nominal spacing of 25 meters, covering the Rowland Central Mining Corridor. Given that the property has never been subjected to such systematic exploration, this orientation sampling program ensured the correct design for the main exploration phase. Results show strong and discrete tungsten anomalies relative to a background baseline value of approximately 2 ppm WO₃. Multiple samples exceeded 10 ppm, five samples exceeded 50 ppm, and three samples exceeded 100 ppm. These anomalies are interpreted as a tungsten skarn system developed along a carbonate-intrusive contact, with potential NE-SW trending mineralized structures. The peak values are located in the central area, while a second strong anomaly cluster covers the Rowland Main Zone to the south. Copper, molybdenum, bismuth, and beryllium are elevated in the same samples, confirming a coherent polymetallic skarn signature. Selected individual soil sample data show: Sample X-3 from the Central Mining Zone with tungsten 1,130 ppm, copper 1,185 ppm, molybdenum 34.9 ppm, bismuth 1.64 ppm, beryllium 4.56 ppm; Sample K-8 from the Rowland Main Zone with tungsten 410 ppm, copper 375 ppm, molybdenum 7.2 ppm, bismuth 2.97 ppm, beryllium 3.20 ppm; Sample L-7 with tungsten 400 ppm, copper 146 ppm, molybdenum 3.8 ppm, bismuth 0.76 ppm, beryllium 2.35 ppm; Sample J-7 with tungsten 75 ppm, copper 77 ppm, molybdenum 2.2 ppm, bismuth 0.67 ppm, beryllium 2.30 ppm; Sample X-2 with tungsten 69 ppm, copper 58 ppm, molybdenum 2.8 ppm, bismuth 0.27 ppm, beryllium 1.79 ppm; Sample L-2 with tungsten 47 ppm, copper 53 ppm, molybdenum 1.7 ppm, bismuth 0.57 ppm, beryllium 1.69 ppm.
The Rowland deposit is interpreted as a reduced tungsten (W-Cu-Mo-Bi) skarn, where tungsten-bearing fluids exsolved from Cretaceous granite and reacted with Ordovician-Cambrian limestone (unit OCtd), depositing scheelite-bearing skarn at and near the intrusive contact. The Phase 1 soils are located directly above the carbonate host, with the strongest anomalies falling on magnetic gradients. The coincidence of high-grade polymetallic soils with the interpreted contact zone over a one-kilometer distance is a strong exploration vector.
Given that the soils show a strong response over both the historical mining central area and the Rowland Main Zone, two known mineralized areas, the company is highly confident that soil geochemistry can reliably highlight the anticipated skarn contact zones and can be used to extend known areas and discover new ones.
Western Star is organizing an expanded soil sampling program to be launched shortly. This program aims to trace the anticipated skarn contact zones outward from known mining areas and potentially mineralized controlling faults. Results from the expanded program will be integrated with drone magnetics and field mapping to generate and prioritize drill targets for Rowland's first drilling program. Soil samples were submitted to ALS Laboratories and analyzed using method ME-MS41L (aqua regia digestion, 51-element ICP-MS), with gold also included in this package. Tungsten values are reported in ppm, and WO₃ is calculated as tungsten multiplied by 1.2611. Anomaly thresholds were determined using percentiles (P90/P95/P98) and median absolute deviation criteria based on log-transformed data, with values below detection limits treated as half the detection limit in statistical analysis. The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by the company's consultant, Jasper Mowatt (MIMMM Member No. 0486653 and MAusIMM Member No. 3178851), who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
