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The Nevada Tungsten Past-Producer That Just Filed With the Pentagon's Critical Minerals Body -- and What 17 Historical Workings Could Mean for the 2026 Drill Program

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  • Western Star Resources Inc. identified over 17 historical mining workings across two kilometres of mineralization at its Rowland Tungsten Property in Nevada using LiDAR technology.
  • The company is designing a maiden drill program around these historical targets as Rotterdam APT prices exceeded US$3,000/MTU.
  • A U.S. federal procurement rule effective January 1, 2027, will ban tungsten from China, Russia, Iran, & North Korea from U.S. defense applications.
  • Western Star submitted a proposal to the U.S. Defense Industrial Base Consortium (DIBC) in May 2026 to supply tungsten for defense technologies.
  • Historical production at the Rowland site included 4.5 tons of ore at 3.38% WO₃ in 1943 & approximately 1,000 tons of ore at 0.5–1.0% WO₃ from 1954 to 1956.
  • The 2026 spring work program includes systematic rock sampling, soil geochemistry, & a high-resolution UAV magnetic survey to identify structural controls & skarn targets.
  • Management plans to submit a Notice of Intent for permitting in Elko County while advancing exploration to streamline the process.
  • CEO Blake Morgan confirmed team travel to Washington in May 2026 to discuss the asset with U.S. defense procurement officials.
  • The property is underlain by Cretaceous-aged intrusions creating skarn zones where scheelite mineralization occurs, with intense historical activity noted one kilometre from the intrusive contact.
  • The company holds no current NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate, & historical production figures do not constitute a current resource.
  • Tungsten prices have risen approximately 900% over the trailing 12 months, with Rotterdam APT trading near US$3,185 per metric tonne unit as of May 2026.
  • Western Star has secured a 12-month European investor relations mandate with Plutus Invest & Consulting GmbH & is pursuing a CMETC-eligible flow-through financing.
  • Competitors Almonty Industries, MP Materials, USA Rare Earth, & Energy Fuels are also advancing U.S. & allied critical mineral production to meet the 2027 supply deadlines.