Guardian Metal Resources plc has advanced operations at its Pilot Mountain and Tempiute tungsten projects in Nevada, USA.
GARNET
Pilot Mountain’s phase I resource drilling is complete, with results pending, and geotechnical drilling started at the Desert Scheelite deposit, one of four at the project.
The company said that the first completed geotechnical drill hole had intercepted “multiple” intervals of skarn-type mineralisation.
Two of the six total planned geotechnical drill holes will focus on the Porphyry South area at the proposed southern open-pit edge.
Porphyry South will also undergo geological and geochemical mapping to aid drill hole targeting and further exploration.
Pilot Mountain additionally contains industrial garnet, with initial gravity processing results showing “positive garnet recoveries”.
Guardian has started magnetic separation tests to optimise final garnet recoveries and minimise tungsten recovery losses.
The company is targeting 70 to 80% recoveries and +90% garnet grades.
The Gunmetal and Garnet prospects have now received drill permits with operations due to begin once geotechnical drilling on Desert Scheelite is complete.
Geological modelling of Gunmetal and Garnet has begun with results expected to contribute to the zones’ future mineral resource definition.
A solar powered water well at Pilot Mountain has also been installed for drilling and future work, “significantly” decreasing operational costs.
STOCKPILES
Alongside Pilot Mountain, Guardian plans to advance and derisk the nearby Tempiute project, formerly the Emerson tungsten mine, towards production.
Porphyry expert Dr Lawrence Carter has completed his geological evaluation of Tempiute and taken 81 samples for analysis.
Metallurgical samples have also been taken from the six historical 1980s’ ore stockpiles on site, and detailed testing underway of the historical mine processing tailings.
The company has also purchased a “significant” dataset of multiple historical drill holes, to help plan for future drilling and contribute towards a revised mineral resource estimate.
“It’s a very exciting time in the history of Guardian Metal Resources with our co-flagship assets Pilot Mountain and Tempiute now moving forward in parallel,” said chief executive Oliver Friesen.
“The fact that both projects are located in Nevada gives us a distinct advantage: a domestic, tariff-free source.”