Guardian Metal Resources PLC has announced a significant update at its Tempiute Tungsten Project in Nevada, where the company is evaluating the recovery potential of historical mine tailings as part of efforts to strengthen the domestic US tungsten supply.
The Tempiute project, formerly known as the Emerson Tungsten Mine, is a historic tungsten-producing operation located in south-central Nevada, approximately 250 miles southeast of the company’s Pilot Mountain Tungsten Project.
Guardian Metal said detailed mapping and sampling work has identified approximately 550 acres of tungsten-enriched historical mine tailings across the site. The company believes the tailings could represent a potentially attractive near-term tungsten production opportunity using modern reprocessing techniques.
As a result of the findings, Guardian Metal has substantially expanded its mineral rights position at Tempiute by staking 193 additional claims, increasing the overall project footprint by more than 375% to secure what it believes is the full extent of the tailings area.
Chief Executive Officer Oliver Friesen described the historical tailings as a “unique opportunity” that could support both domestic tungsten supply and environmental reclamation objectives.
The company plans to commence an auger drilling programme in June 2026, subject to permitting approvals from the Bureau of Land Management and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection.
The drilling campaign is expected to characterise the tailings material, surrounding soils and overall tungsten resource potential, while also supporting environmental assessment work.
Guardian Metal also confirmed that an independent metallurgical study is underway to determine the most effective methods for recovering tungsten and other metals from the tailings material.
Management believes the combination of existing site infrastructure, previously processed surface material and elevated tungsten prices could provide a comparatively lower-cost and faster development route than a conventional hard-rock mining operation.
Tungsten has become an increasingly strategic commodity due to its importance in defence, aerospace and industrial manufacturing, with the US government prioritising efforts to rebuild domestic supply chains and reduce reliance on foreign imports.
