VKA hits visible tungsten in first US drilling in 40 years

Published 19-AUG-2026 14:46 P.M.

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Our US tungsten Investment Viking Mines (ASX: VKA | OTC: VKALF) just hit visuals from its project in Nevada.

The project produced tungsten from 1941 to 1956, only stopping when the US government suspended its tungsten buying program (not because the geology ran out).

Today VKA reported encouraging early visuals from the first drill holes.

VKA reported scheelite (which is ~80.5% tungsten) and glows under UV light, so you can get an indication of the drilling right out of the ground:

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(source)

The predominantly red looking garnet on the left actually contains scheelite amongst it under the UV light.

And VKA is seeing these visuals over good widths - the best a 12m continuous interval of visible scheelite from 40m downhole.

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(source)

VKA also included a 20m section of drill chips samples under normal lighting and also the UV lamp:

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(source)

Visual estimates are no substitute for assays though, the first samples are now headed to the lab, with results expected in 4-6 weeks.

While drilling continues, VKA is also progressing its early, low CAPEX restart workstreams - metwork on ore sorting and flotation.

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(source)

You can see our Deep Dive leading into the drilling here: VKA to start drilling for tungsten in the US any day now...?

What’s next for VKA?

🔄 VKA’s first drill programme at US tungsten project

Here are the milestones we are tracking for the drill programme:

✅ Earthworks
✅ Drill rig mobilisation to site
🔄 Drilling starts - (any day now based on recent VKA announcements)
🔲 Assay results (should start to land in August/September)

🔄 VKA’s rapid restart plan

We also want to see VKA progress its rapid mine restart strategy.

Here are the milestones we are tracking on that front:

✅ Assay results from stockpiles + tailings dam
✅ Processing study results
🔄 Metwork optimisation (Ore sorting + flotation testwork).

🔄 US engagement

This is more of a corporate milestone we want to see VKA hit.

It’s hard to predict when any of these might happen, but we are hoping VKA can attract some sort of US government funding to help finance its project AND/OR attract strategic interest from inside the US.