U.S. Department of War Tungsten Ban Takes Effect in 15 Months

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 01, 2026 /CourierPR/ -- On January 1, 2027, the U.S. Department of War will no longer be able to purchase tungsten mined, refined, or produced in China, Russia, North Korea, or Iran. This ban, set to take effect in about 15 months, is part of a broader defense acquisition clause, DFARS 252.225-7052, which aims to reduce reliance on foreign sources of specialty metals. The U.S. currently has no operating commercial tungsten mines, making the search for domestic sources a critical priority.

Tungsten prices have surged, more than tripling in 2026. Fastmarkets assessed tungsten concentrate at $750 to $850 per metric tonne unit at the start of the year, but by late May, the price had climbed to $2,500 to $2,800 per metric tonne unit. This significant increase underscores the urgency for domestic exploration and production.

Western Star Resources Inc., a company based in Nevada, is at the forefront of this search. The company has completed a 253-sample soil survey at its White Star Tungsten Project in Elko County, Nevada. The survey, analyzed by ALS Global using lithium borate fusion, identified two discrete tungsten-in-soil anomalies. The North Zone, covering an area of approximately 215 by 240 meters, returned a peak value of 156 ppm tungsten, while the South Zone, about 700 meters south, held the highest value of 2,230 ppm tungsten, or 0.28% WO₃. The Company noted that there is no recorded historical activity in the North Zone, making it a promising new target.

The analytical method used by Western Star Resources is crucial for accurate tungsten detection. All samples were run for 32 elements by lithium borate fusion and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, chosen for its ability to accurately measure tungsten hosted in scheelite and wolframite. Field duplicates were inserted at roughly one in 30 samples, alongside the laboratory's own reference materials, blanks, and duplicates.

Western Star Resources is not the only company active in this search. In September 2026, i-80 Gold Corp. reported initial assay results from its Mineral Point open-pit project at Ruby Hill, Nevada, including a step-out hole grading 1.33 g/t gold and 39.2 g/t silver over 225.6 meters. Integra Resources Corp. reported new near-mine drill results at its Florida Canyon mine in Pershing County, Nevada, with 1.30 g/t gold over 62.5 meters. SSR Mining Inc. produced 101,959 gold-equivalent ounces in the second quarter of 2026, with Marigold mine in Nevada contributing 31,059 ounces.

Hudbay Minerals Inc., which includes the Mason copper project in Nevada among its assets, announced an enhanced mine plan at Snow Lake in Manitoba that extends reserve mine life to 2043 and lifts life-of-mine gold production by 60%. The company's share price gained 427% over the three years to June 30, 2026.

The search for domestic tungsten sources is driven by the need to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers, particularly China, which accounted for roughly 67,000 tonnes of the world's estimated 85,000 tonnes of mine output in 2025. With the ban set to take effect in just over 15 months, companies across Nevada are racing to find and develop new sources of this critical metal.