en.Wedoany.com Reported - Tungsten Mining (ASX: TGN) has commenced a major drilling program at the Watershed tungsten project in Queensland, Australia, to support an upgrade in resource confidence within the initial mining area and provide data for subsequent development decisions. The drilling campaign follows the positive results of the Preliminary Economic Evaluation (PEE) announced in June.
The drilling program consists of two components. Reverse circulation (RC) drilling will run for four months, comprising 175 holes for a total of 15,000 metres, focused on infilling drill spacing to 20m × 20m within known high-grade mineralisation zones. Diamond drilling will run for three months, comprising 75 holes for a total of 5,700 metres, and will provide samples and data for metallurgical test work, geotechnical studies, and detailed engineering design. TGN expects these results to support an updated mineral resource model and optimise the mining plan, mine schedule, and open-pit design.
TGN Chairman Gary Lyons said the project represents a significant step forward following the positive economic assessment in June. He noted that the reverse circulation drilling will improve confidence in resource modelling and mine planning, while the diamond drilling provides key inputs for reducing development risks.
The reverse circulation drilling will focus on areas covered by the early mining plan at Watershed. By infilling drill spacing in high-grade zones, TGN aims to enhance its understanding of mineralisation continuity, geometry, and grade distribution within the initial mining target area, providing a basis for the next mineral resource update and strengthening the geological foundation for mine scheduling and open-pit optimisation.
The diamond drilling is designed to generate physical data. Core samples will be used for metallurgical test work and geotechnical analysis, serving as key inputs for process design, detailed engineering, open-pit design, and mine planning; the core will also be logged and assayed to add geological data to the next resource model.
Watershed is an advanced tungsten project located approximately 130 kilometres northwest of Cairns, with a granted mining lease and environmental authority for open-pit mining, providing TGN with an established approval basis. Vital Metals completed the definitive feasibility study for the project in 2014, and Tungsten Mining acquired it in August 2018. TGN subsequently updated the mineral resource estimate and preliminary economic assessment in June. The latest drilling will further refine the technical picture, preparing for subsequent development studies and a potential final investment decision (FID) in the third quarter of 2026.
Watershed is part of Tungsten Mining's broader portfolio of advanced Australian tungsten assets, representing near-term production potential; the Mt Mulgine project in Western Australia offers scale and is one of the world's largest tungsten deposits. Tungsten is a critical mineral used in defence, aerospace, electronics, automotive, mining, and construction, particularly in cemented carbides, high-speed steels, and superalloys.
As the Watershed drilling campaign progresses, assay results and technical data will be the next milestones. Initial results are expected to be released progressively from October, with material drilling results to be announced as they become available.
