Western Star Resources Inc. has entered into an agreement to acquire the past-producing Rowland Project, a tungsten property located in Nevada's Jarbidge mining district. The acquisition comes at a time when the United States lacks domestic commercial tungsten production and relies entirely on imports, with approximately 85% of global supply controlled by China.
The Rowland Property represents a strategic asset due to tungsten's classification as a critical mineral essential for defense, aerospace, energy, and semiconductor industries. Historical production records show the property yielded high-grade material, including a 1943 shipment of 4.5 tons of ore containing 3.38% WO₃ to Metals Reserve Co. During 1954-56, approximately 1,000 tons of ore containing 0.5 to 1.0 percent WO₃ was produced from the site.
Blake Morgan, CEO of Western Star, emphasized the national significance of securing domestic tungsten sources. "The acquisition of the Past Producing Rowland Property aligns perfectly with Western Star's mission to deliver value to shareholders while supporting U.S. government priorities to strengthen domestic supply chains for critical minerals," Morgan stated. The company plans immediate exploration work including geophysics, channel sampling, and mapping with the goal of reaching drill-ready status for a maiden program early next year.
The transaction structure includes an initial payment of CAD $20,000 and deferred consideration of CAD $40,000 plus 1,000,000 common shares upon closing. Additional milestone payments are tied to exploration success, including share issuances for expanding claim areas, identifying high-grade samples, and completing successful drilling programs. The full transaction details are available at https://www.newmediawire.com.
This acquisition aligns with recent U.S. government directives prioritizing domestic critical mineral development. Executive Orders have established frameworks for fast-tracking tungsten projects and providing federal support for qualifying assets. The strategic importance extends beyond commercial considerations to national security concerns, given tungsten's essential role in defense applications and the current supply chain vulnerability.
The property's geological characteristics include limestone, shale, and quartzite formations intruded by quartz monzonite, with metamorphosed skarn and hornfels zones up to 100 feet wide. Mine workings consist of two shallow shafts and several hundred feet of open cuts, with scheelite occurring as coarse crystals and fine disseminations in garnet, epidote, quartz, and calcite skarn. The project remains under-explored using modern techniques, presenting significant exploration upside according to company statements.
Western Star's acquisition timing coincides with increased government focus on critical mineral independence. The company's immediate exploration plans and the property's historical production credentials position it to potentially contribute to rebuilding domestic tungsten production capacity, reducing reliance on foreign sources for this strategically important mineral.
