Western Star Resources Inc. (CSE: WSR) (OTC: WSRIF) (FRA: 4K2) reported results from its Phase 1 soil-geochemistry program at the past-producing Rowland Tungsten Property in Elko County, Nevada. The sampling confirmed a coherent, multi-element tungsten-skarn signature in soil over an approximately one-kilometre structural corridor, headlined by a peak of 1,425 parts per million (ppm) tungsten trioxide (WO3) in soil in the area of recently re-discovered historical workings. On the strength of these results, the company is mobilising an expanded soil program to commence shortly.
The Phase 1 soil grid comprised 93 soil samples at nominal 25 m spacing over the central Rowland workings corridor. The program was designed as an orientation survey given the property has never been systematically explored in this manner. The results showed strong and discrete tungsten anomalies against baseline background values of approximately 2 ppm WO3. Multiple samples exceeded 10 ppm, five above 50 ppm, and three above 100 ppm W. The peak value of 1,425 ppm WO3 (0.14%) was returned directly over a recently re-discovered zone of historical workings at sample site X-3, while a second strong cluster with up to 517 ppm WO3 overlies the Rowland Main workings to the south. Copper (up to 1,185 ppm), molybdenum (up to 35 ppm), bismuth (up to 5.2 ppm), and beryllium (up to 4.56 ppm) were elevated in the same samples, confirming a coherent polymetallic skarn signature.
Blake Morgan, President and CEO of Western Star, commented, “As far as we are aware, this is the first ever soil geochemistry survey completed by a public company at Rowland, and returning a high value result of 0.14% WO3 is an excellent start. The anomalous soil results provide a baseline to interpret the expanded soil results once they arrive. Crucially, the soils line up with the contacts our UAV magnetics are mapping, which is the strongest possible vector for where to look next.”
The soil anomalies coincide with magnetic gradients imaged by the company’s UAV magnetic survey, which are interpreted as lithological and structural contacts. Rowland is interpreted as a reduced tungsten (W-Cu-Mo-Bi) skarn, where tungsten-bearing fluids from a Cretaceous granite reacted with Ordovician–Cambrian limestone to deposit scheelite-bearing skarn at the intrusive contact. The Phase 1 soils sit directly on this carbonate host, and the strongest anomalies fall on magnetic gradients. This coincidence of high-grade polymetallic-metal soils with interpreted contacts over approximately one kilometre provides a powerful exploration vector.
Two large target areas have emerged: the central zone around the historical workings and the Rowland Main zone. The company plans to systematically explore these areas along with property-wide exploratory sampling. Western Star is mobilising an expanded soil-sampling program to commence imminently, designed to trace the prospective skarn contacts outward from the known workings and potential mineralisation-controlling faults. Results will be integrated with the UAV magnetic survey and field mapping to generate and prioritise drill targets for a maiden drill program at Rowland.
Soil samples were submitted to ALS, an accredited laboratory independent of the company, and analysed by method ME-MS41L (aqua-regia digest, 51-element ICP-MS). Tungsten values are reported in ppm; WO3 is calculated as W × 1.2611. The scientific and technical information in this release has been reviewed and approved by Jasper Mowatt, MIMMM and MAusIMM, a consultant to the company and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101.
Western Star Resources is an emerging junior mineral exploration company focused on revitalizing North America's tungsten supply. The company is advancing its entry into the U.S. market through past-producing tungsten assets in historically important mining districts and is positioning itself to participate in the growing need for secure domestic critical mineral supply. For more information, visit www.westernstarresources.com.
