American Tungsten Exceeds 30,000 Feet of Drilling at IMA Mine
News related to:American Tungsten Corp · 2 min read
American Tungsten Corp has announced significant progress in its exploration efforts at the IMA Mine in Lemhi County, Idaho. The company has surpassed 30,000 feet of drilling, marking a substantial milestone in defining the scale and continuity of the mine's mineral system.
According to Austin Zinsser, Vice President of Exploration at American Tungsten, "Crossing the 30,000-foot drilling threshold is a crucial step in understanding the extent of the IMA Mine's mineral system. Our latest results not only expand the known extent of the No. 5 through No. 7 vein array but also confirm the historic 41R vein and identify additional tungsten-bearing zones beyond previously mined areas."
The company's drilling program has produced over 5.5 miles of core, with several notable intersections. In late August, two drillholes, AT26-36 and AT26-43, each intersected the stacked No. 5, No. 7 vein array. These intersections included:
- 6.7 feet grading 0.547% WO₃ and 2.38 oz/t Ag in the No. 5 vein in hole AT26-43 - 14.8 feet grading 0.470% WO₃ and 1.24 oz/t Ag in the No. 7 vein in hole AT26-43 - 5.05 feet grading 0.550% WO₃ and 1.45 oz/t Ag in the No. 5 vein in hole AT26-36
Additionally, exploratory downholes from the D-Level encountered previously unknown areas of mineralization, including 5 feet grading 0.484% WO₃ in hole AT26-45. The 41R vein, a previously untested historic vein, was intersected from the Zero Level in multiple drillholes, with significant results:
- 9.4 feet grading 0.802% WO₃ and 0.59 oz/t Ag in the 41R vein in hole AT26-39 - 3.3 feet grading 0.639% WO₃ and 0.84 oz/t Ag in the 41R vein in hole AT26-35
The company also intersected multiple tungsten-bearing polymetallic veins adjacent to and within the Ima Stock, with notable results from surface drillhole AT26-48S:
- 10.6 feet grading 0.955% WO₃ and 1.14 oz/t Ag in hole AT26-48S - 5.3 feet grading 0.777% WO₃ in hole AT26-48S
These findings reinforce the company's view that the IMA Mine hosts a significantly larger mineralized system than previously recognized. The exploration potential remains considerable both adjacent to and beyond the historic mine workings.
The IMA Mine is a past-producing underground tungsten mine situated on 22 patented claims in east-central Idaho. Between 1945 and 1957, the property produced approximately 199,449 MTUs of WO₃. The company recently announced a Mineral Resource Estimate for the IMA Mine, comprising 316,000 tonnes of Indicated Mineral Resources grading 0.55% WO₃, containing 1,747 tonnes of WO₃, and 2,178,000 tonnes of Inferred Mineral Resources grading 0.55% WO₃, containing 11,933 tonnes of WO₃. The mineral resource estimate supports the company's strategy of advancing the IMA Mine toward potential domestic tungsten production through a phased development approach.
American Tungsten is currently conducting an exploration drill program, advancing engineering and technical studies, and assessing the potential restart of underground tungsten mining operations at the IMA Mine. The company's focus is on re-establishing domestic tungsten production and supporting North American supply-chain security.