Great Western Mining Corporation PLC (AIM: GWMO) has advanced exploration across its Defender-Pine Crow tungsten project in Nevada, completing a series of geological, geophysical and trenching programmes ahead of a planned drilling campaign beginning in July.
The work forms part of a fully funded 2026 exploration programme aimed at delivering an initial maiden resource estimate for the project by the end of the year.
Exploration activities have now been completed across a three-kilometre mineralised corridor linking the Defender-Pine Crow tungsten project with the company’s existing M2 copper resource, helping to assess the scale and continuity of mineralisation across the broader Black Mountain claim area.
A detailed gravity geophysical survey covering approximately 3 km by 500 m has been completed by Zonge International, with the data expected to enhance understanding of the skarn-hosted tungsten system and to support drill targeting.
Geological mapping and grab sampling have also identified additional prospective zones and structural controls, while four machine-cut trenches have been completed across the project area. Three trenches were excavated between the Defender and Pine Crow mines, with a fourth completed at the historic Widowmaker Mine, located two kilometres west of Defender and midway between Pine Crow and the M2 copper resource. Samples from all trenches have been submitted for assay.
Preparations for drilling are progressing, with proposed drill pad locations and access routes between the historic Dough God and Defender mines now submitted to the Bureau of Land Management for permitting approval.
Chief executive Ed Loye said the latest work continued to strengthen the company’s understanding of the district-scale tungsten potential.
“The addition of trenching at the Widowmaker Mine is especially encouraging as it extends exploration activity further west along strike towards M2, supporting our view that this is part of a much larger mineralised trend,” he said.
Alongside exploration, Great Western has also submitted a 750kg metallurgical bulk sample to Eriez in Pennsylvania for flotation testing, work that is expected to support future development studies.
With drilling due to commence in July and assay results pending, management believes the project is moving steadily towards resource definition and a clearer assessment of its economic potential.
