Great Western Mining Corporation PLC (AIM:GWMO) has started a fully funded drilling programme at its Defender Tungsten Project in Nevada, putting the company on course for a maiden mineral resource estimate by the end of 2026.
The programme will comprise at least 7,000 feet, or 2,135 metres, of drilling across up to 22 holes. Initial work will test the grade and continuity of tungsten mineralisation along a 600–1,000 metre section encompassing the historic Pine Crow, Dough God and Defender mines.
Assay results are expected through September and October. Addison Mining Services, appointed as independent Competent Person for the maiden JORC resource estimate, is overseeing logging, sampling, data capture and quality assurance from the start of drilling.
Chief executive Ed Loye said the programme followed extensive geophysics, geological mapping, channel sampling and drill-pad construction.
Great Western is also awaiting results from a 750kg metallurgical bulk sample sent to Eriez in Pennsylvania for flotation testing, with those results expected in August.
