Trigg Minerals (ASX:TMG) eyes strategic tungsten play in Nevada’s critical minerals push

In a move that sharpens its focus on U.S. aligned critical minerals, Trigg Minerals (ASX:TMG) has acquired the Tennessee Mountain Tungsten Project in Nevada, marking its formal entry into a commodity increasingly prized for defence and aerospace use.

Located in the Alder Mining District of Elko County, the project includes the historic Garnet Mine, which produced tungsten intermittently up until the 1970s.

The site was previously assessed by the United States Defence Minerals Exploration Administration (DMEA), which reported a historical resource estimate of 780,000 short tons grading 0.3% to 0.5% WO₃.

While the estimate predates the JORC Code and requires modern verification, it provides a promising springboard.

Highlights

• Acquisition of 100% of the Tennessee Mountain Tungsten Project in Nevada

• Historic DMEA resource: 708,602 tonnes @ 0.3–0.5% WO₃

• Project features classic skarn-style mineralisation with high-grade scheelite lenses

• Mineralisation remains open at depth, with exploration upside along intrusive contact zones

• Tungsten price at 14-year highs due to geopolitical supply risks

• Trigg is cashed up with ~$15.8 million to drive work at both its U.S. projects

Trigg Minerals, Managing Director Andre Booyzen said the move aligns with Trigg’s broader ambition to become a vertically integrated supplier of strategic minerals for Western markets.

“The Tennessee Mountain acquisition marks a strategic entry into the tungsten sector and expansion of our critical minerals portfolio.”

Tungsten’s relevance has surged in recent years due to its non-substitutable properties in defence-grade alloys and deep-space technologies.

China dominates the global supply chain, meaning Nevada-hosted deposits with historical pedigree are back in vogue, especially when they sit adjacent to favourable geology and are accessible via patented claims.

The mineralisation at Tennessee Mountain occurs in skarn bodies adjacent to the Coffeepot granodiorite intrusion, with high-grade scheelite lenses extending down-dip for over 120 metres and mineralisation remaining open at depth.

The company sees a clear path to value uplift through data validation, modern geophysics and confirmatory drilling.

“This project aligns with our objective of rapidly building a portfolio of critical mineral assets,” Booyzen said.

The acquisition terms are modest, a US$100,000 cash payment and US$125,000 in Trigg shares alongside a 1% net smelter return royalty.

Trigg will use existing funds to begin initial exploration in Q4 2025, with drilling and metallurgical testwork scheduled for 2026.

With geopolitical tensions reshaping resource strategies, Nevada’s tungsten revival—and Trigg’s positioning within it—may warrant close observation.

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