Great Western Mining (GWMO ) is initiating proof-of-concept flotation test work on material from its Defender-Pine Crow tungsten project in Nevada.
Eriez Global of Erie, Pennsylvania has been appointed to conduct flotation test work on a 750 kilogram bulk sample from Defender-Pine Crow.
This sample has already been despatched to Eriez, and is representative of scheelite-bearing skarn mineralisation observed at surface in previously active open-pit mines abandoned after the cessation of WWII.
The testing is designed to apply a proven flowsheet to produce a high-grade tungsten ore concentrate with high recovery.
Separately, assay results from drilling are expected in the third quarter of 2026, and should contribute towards maiden resource estimation targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026.
"Engaging Eriez to undertake this test work represents an important step forward in validating the metallurgical characteristics of the mineralisation at Defender-Pine Crow,” said Great Western’s chief executive Ed Loye.
“By applying an established flowsheet to a representative bulk sample, we aim to confirm the suitability of conventional flotation techniques for scheelite recovery. We are conducting this work alongside several other activities at the project, including geophysics, mapping and trenching, all ahead of the fully-funded drill campaign scheduled to commence in July 2026. This highlights the team's confidence in the near-term potential for Defender-Pine Crow and our eagerness to expedite exploration efforts and advance towards a maiden mineral resource estimate this year."
View from Vox
Great Western’s share price is now at a 12-month high, as it begins to get serious about the development of the tungsten potential on its extensive Nevada ground. The really crucial moment will be the drilling later in the summer, but in the meantime there’s plenty of useful work to be done. Working out the potential flow-sheet for processing the tungsten is a key component to any development and it’s good to see a start being made on this work. Tungsten prices are still sky-high, and the location of Defender-Pine Crow right in the heart of the US’s most mining-prolific state is proving highly attractive to investors.