Viking Mines (ASX:VKA) outlines high grade tungsten results and next phase of technical work at Linka Project in Nevada
January 16, 2026Viking Mines Managing Director and CEO Julian Woodcock addresses the technical and strategic implications of recently reported high grade tungsten oxide head assays from metallurgical samples collected at the Linka Tungsten Project in Nevada, USA, with emphasis on grade distribution across historical workings, the commencement of metallurgical testwork, the relevance of current scheelite concentrate pricing, and the defined technical and regulatory steps required to advance the project toward drilling.
What do the metallurgical head assays indicate about the mineralisation at the Linka Project?
The four composite metallurgical samples collected from separate historical workings demonstrate a consistently high tungsten tenor across multiple parts of the Linka system, with 295.2kg of material returning head grades between 0.8% and 1.3% WO3 and a mass weighted average of 1.0% WO3.
The highest grade was recorded from the Linka Open Pit sample at 1.3% WO3, while the Conquest Open Pit, Hillside Shaft and coarse stockpile samples returned 1.0%, 0.9% and 0.8% WO3 respectively.
UV light identifies scheelite as the dominant fluorescent mineral in the samples. The results validate the historical high-grade tungsten values seen across the 3 historic mining locations and indicate the high-grade potential of the mineralisation.
“The weighted average head grade of 1.0% WO3 across nearly 300kg of composite material confirms that high grade scheelite mineralisation is not isolated, but across multiple historical workings within the Linka Project footprint.”
This distribution of grades reaffirms that tungsten mineralisation occurs at these historical mines located over >800m strike length, based solely on the spatial spread and consistency of the head assay results reported.
How do these grades compare with historical production from the district?
Historical production records indicate that the Linka Mine and nearby workings produced tungsten at an average mined grade of 0.49% WO3, with certain ore shoots reaching as high as 3.0% WO3. Individual shipments are recorded as ranging from 0.40% to 0.98% throughout the 1940’s and 1950’s.
Against this historical backdrop, the current metallurgical sample head grades of up to 1.3% WO3 sit at the upper end of the grade spectrum recorded for the district.
“The 1.3% WO3 head grade from the Linka Open Pit sample exceeds the average grades reported from most historical mining campaigns in the district, which averaged 0.49% WO3.”
The grades achieved for the metallurgical samples demonstrate that the Linka Project has the capacity to generate high-grade tungsten mineralisation and validates the occurrence of high-grade results seen in the historical data.
What metallurgical work has commenced, and what is the stated purpose of this program at this stage?
All four composite samples have been prepared at Base Met Labs in Tucson, Arizona, and analysed to determine the WO3 head grades.
Sighter metallurgical testwork has now commenced on the prepared samples with the objective of establishing a processing flowsheet for the production of a scheelite concentrate, beginning with the highest grade Linka Open Pit sample.
“Sighter metallurgical testwork is underway to define a flowsheet capable of producing a scheelite concentrate from the high-grade skarn hosted mineralisation identified in the Linka samples.”
The testwork program will define the most effective processing methods to maximise recovery in to the scheelite concentrate whilst also maximising grade of WO3 for either sale or downstream processing. The sighter testwork will form the technical basis for ongoing processing flowsheet development.
How is the reported tungsten price environment described, and how is it linked to the current testwork programme?
Scheelite concentrate prices are cited at record levels, with 25% to 30% WO3 concentrates quoted at US$937 per metric tonne unit, equivalent to approximately US$93,700 per tonne of contained WO3. This provides a clear reference point for the current market value of the product that the Linka samples are being tested to produce.
The commencement of sighter metallurgical testwork and the establishment of a scheelite concentrate flowsheet are therefore framed against a pricing environment in which high grade concentrate commands historically elevated returns. This aligns the focus of the laboratory programme with the prevailing commercial benchmarks for saleable tungsten products, while remaining strictly confined to the quoted grades and price levels without extending into economic forecasts or valuation assumptions.
What technical, geological and permitting steps are defined before drilling can proceed at Linka?
The forward programme includes completion of the metallurgical flowsheet, continuation of sighter testwork, acquisition of high resolution aerial survey data, and the execution of gravity and magnetic surveys to support geological interpretation and target definition.
Historical geological and assay data, including channel sampling from the Linka Pit, Hillside and Conquest areas, are being compiled to refine drill targeting. Drill hole planning will then support preparation of a Notice of Intent to the relevant Federal Agencies, which is the stated regulatory pathway for securing drilling approvals on Bureau of Land Management and United States Forestry Service administered claims.
“Drill planning and permitting are structured around submission of a Notice of Intent to the relevant Federal authorities, following completion of geophysical surveys, historical data compilation and metallurgical testwork.”
These activities are being undertaken in parallel with the ongoing due diligence and technical assessment of the broader Nevada tungsten project portfolio.
Forward technical and regulatory pathway
Under the direction of Viking Mines Managing Director and CEO Julian Woodcock, the Linka Tungsten Project is progressing through a defined sequence of metallurgical, geological and regulatory activities, with current work centred on establishing a scheelite concentrate flowsheet, consolidating historical and newly generated technical data, and advancing the surveys, studies and permitting steps required to support drill planning and subsequent evaluation of the broader Nevada tungsten project portfolio.
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