Outstanding Tungsten Results Complement Previous Discoveries
The company's systematic sampling of historical diamond core has yielded impressive tungsten intercepts in hole WQSDD002, including 11m @ 0.93% WO3 and 4.19g/t Au from 169m including 1m @ 2.49% WO3 and 0.41g/t Au from 172m.
These new results build upon previously reported high-grade tungsten discoveries at Western Queen, most notably an exceptional intercept in WQDD013 of 4.05m @ 4.58% WO3 and 0.72 g/t Au from 174.85m, which included 0.65m @ 18.35% WO3 and 2.97 g/t Au.
The company reports that visible scheelite mineralisation has been observed in all historical diamond holes examined to date under ultraviolet light, suggesting widespread tungsten presence throughout the project area.
Expanding the Resource Potential
Rumble Resources Ltd is now conducting a comprehensive review of 78 historical diamond holes totalling 7,823m drilled at Western Queen by previous owners. The systematic sampling programme aims to identify tungsten mineralisation that was previously overlooked, as tungsten was not a target metal during earlier exploration campaigns.
Managing Director and CEO Peter Harold highlighted the significance of these findings: "The discovery of high-grade tungsten has been an added bonus and we look forward to receiving all the tungsten assays from the historical core together with gold and tungsten assays from the current drilling programme."
The company has initiated a preliminary metallurgical programme on 500kg of high-grade scheelite-bearing material collected from mining bunds at Western Queen South to determine optimal processing methods.
Understanding Tungsten: A Critical Metal in High Demand
Tungsten is classified as a "critical raw material" due to its high supply risk and economic importance. It is considered one of the most crucial metals on the critical materials list, with applications spanning multiple high-tech and emerging industries.
Current global tungsten supply (approximately 78,000t annually) is heavily dependent on China, which produces 81% of the world's tungsten. China has recently moved to impose export restrictions, potentially further reducing tungsten availability to Western markets.
The global tungsten market is projected to grow at up to 7.5% compound annual growth rate, with market size expected to increase by US$2.61 billion (7.4% CAGR) between 2024 and 2029.
Key Applications for Tungsten Include:
- Battery technology (nano tungsten oxide for Li-ion cathodes and anodes)
- Semiconductor production
- Photovoltaic cell manufacturing
- Hydrogen fuel cell enhancement
- Thermonuclear energy
- Military applications
Tungsten possesses several properties that make it valuable across these applications, including the highest melting point of all metals (3,422°C), excellent electrical conductivity, and extreme hardness. These characteristics make it irreplaceable in certain industrial and technological processes, contributing to its critical status.
As industries continue to advance towards more sophisticated technologies, the demand for tungsten is expected to increase proportionally. The Rumble Resources Ltd tungsten discovery at Western Queen therefore comes at a strategic time to potentially address growing market requirements.
Development Plans Advancing on Multiple Fronts
Rumble Resources Ltd is pursuing a dual-focus strategy at Western Queen, advancing both gold and tungsten resources:
Gold Development:
- Completing the Phase 2 drilling programme of up to 4,000m RC and 2,000m diamond drilling
- Targeting new lodes at Princess and depth extensions of Western Queen South
Tungsten Development:
- Completing relogging, pXRF analysis and sampling of historical diamond core
- Finalising preliminary tungsten metallurgical testwork
- Planning to report a maiden tungsten mineral resource estimate in 2025
The company's approach to simultaneously develop both commodities maximises the value extraction from the Western Queen project, whilst effectively managing capital expenditure through shared infrastructure and exploration costs.
Western Queen Project Context
The Western Queen Gold Project, located 110km northwest of Mt Magnet in Western Australia, comprises two mining leases covering 9.8 km². The project is strategically positioned within a 100km radius of three gold processing plants, with the closest being Dalgaranga (48km by road).
The project already hosts a substantial gold resource of 4.42Mt @ 2.02 g/t Au for 286,600 oz, updated in October 2024. The two previously mined deposits at Western Queen had a combined historical production of 880,000t @ 7.6 g/t Au for 215,000oz.
The geological setting of the Western Queen Project involves a structural jog zone within a major orogenic shear that trends north-south along the Wardawarra Greenstone Belt. This structural jog cuts across amphibolite (after basalt and dolerite) and ultramafic lithologies, creating favourable conditions for both gold and tungsten mineralisation.
Why Investors Should Track Rumble Resources
Rumble Resources Ltd is uniquely positioned to benefit from dual commodity exposure through the Western Queen Project. The company offers:
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Exposure to critical metals: Tungsten's classification as a critical metal with supply constraints and growing demand creates significant upside potential.
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Resource growth potential: Both gold and tungsten resources remain open in all directions, with systematic exploration underway.
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Dual commodity leverage: The project offers investors exposure to both precious metals (gold) and global rare earth reserves (tungsten) from a single asset.
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Near-term catalysts: A maiden tungsten resource estimate planned for 2025 represents a significant value-creation milestone.
The Rumble Resources Ltd tungsten discovery at Western Queen presents an unexpected but potentially lucrative development for the company. The high-grade nature of the tungsten mineralisation, combined with its co-occurrence with gold, creates a dual-commodity opportunity that could significantly enhance the project economics.
Furthermore, the strategic timing of this discovery coincides with increasing global concerns about tungsten supply security, particularly as Western nations seek to reduce reliance on Chinese supply chains for critical minerals. This broader geopolitical context may potentially add strategic value to Rumble's tungsten assets beyond pure market considerations.
The unexpected discovery of high-grade tungsten at a project previously explored for gold highlights Rumble's ability to recognise and capitalise on overlooked opportunities, potentially transforming Western Queen from a moderate-sized gold project into a strategically significant dual-commodity asset.
For investors seeking exposure to both critical and precious metals, the mining's crucial role in supplying materials like tungsten represents a compelling opportunity. The Rumble Resources discovery offers portfolio exposure to these strategic commodities through a single ASX-listed entity with an established project in a stable mining jurisdiction.
Additionally, tungsten's growing importance in battery grade materials and clean energy applications positions Rumble Resources to potentially benefit from the expanding market for critical minerals. Looking ahead, the company may even explore sustainable extraction methods as the project progresses toward development.
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