Viking Mines (ASX:VKA) XRT ore sorting testwork delivers early product stream separation at Linka Tungsten Project
Viking Mines has reported initial results from X-ray Transmission ore sorting testwork completed on material from the Linka Tungsten Project in Nevada, United States.
The testwork was conducted by TOMRA at its Test Center in Wedel, Germany on two samples from the Conquest Pit and Linka Stockpile, with both samples crushed and screened prior to processing through a three-stage cascade sorting configuration.
Highlights
- XRT ore sorting testwork completed on Conquest Pit and Linka Stockpile samples
- Conquest Pit sample reported 67.8% mass to product streams
- Linka Stockpile sample reported 56.1% mass to product streams
- Visible scheelite confirmed in high-grade product fraction under ultraviolet light (Conquest Pit sample)
- TOMRA CONTAIN™ deep-learning inclusion detection software applied
- Three-stage cascade sorting configuration utilised
- Four output streams generated including High Grade, Low Grade, CONTAIN™ and Waste
- Product fraction assays pending, expected in second half of July 2026
The testwork was completed on approximately 19.4kg samples from each of the Conquest Pit and Linka Stockpile sources.
Each sample was crushed and screened to a +10mm to -40mm fraction prior to undergoing X-ray Transmission sorting using TOMRA equipment.
The sorting process applied X-ray Transmission technology to separate material into multiple product streams based on response to density differentiation, with tungsten bearing material identified through scheelite presence in sorted fractions under ultraviolet light as reported in the Conquest Pit sample.
The Conquest Pit sample returned 67.8% of total feed mass reporting to product streams across High Grade Inclusions, Low Grade Inclusions and CONTAIN™ Inclusions, with the remainder reporting to waste, while the Linka Stockpile sample returned 56.1% of total feed mass to product streams across the same stream categories.
Viking Mines Managing Director and CEO Julian Woodcock stated,
“These initial ore sorting results are an important step in our strategy to define a rapid low-CAPEX, pathway to production at Linka. The clear presence of scheelite in the high-grade sorted fraction gives encouragement that the technology could have direct benefits to the Project.”
The testwork incorporated TOMRA’s CONTAIN™ software within a three-stage cascade sorting system producing four output streams comprising High Grade Inclusions, Low Grade Inclusions, CONTAIN™ Inclusions and Waste.
Product fractions from both samples have been returned for laboratory analysis, with assays pending to determine grade distribution and recovery outcomes.
Results from product fraction assays are expected in the second half of July 2026.