Western Star Resources Inc. (CSE: WSR) (OTC: WSRIF) (FRA: 4K2) announced results from its Phase 1 soil-geochemistry program at the past-producing Rowland Tungsten Property in Elko County, Nevada. The program confirmed a coherent, multi-element tungsten-skarn signature in soil over an approximately one-kilometre structural corridor, with a peak value of 1,425 parts per million (ppm) tungsten trioxide (WO3) directly over a recently re-discovered zone of historical workings. This result is significant because it validates the company's exploration model and provides a clear vector for targeting additional mineralization.
The soil survey comprised 93 samples at 25-meter spacing over the central Rowland workings corridor. The peak value of 0.14% WO3 (1,130 ppm W) occurred at sample X-3, while soils over the main historical workings (Rowland Main) returned up to 517 ppm and 504 ppm WO3. These anomalies coincide with magnetic gradients interpreted from the company's UAV magnetic survey, which are thought to represent lithological and structural contacts favorable for skarn development. The polymetallic signature includes copper (up to 1,185 ppm), molybdenum (up to 35 ppm), bismuth (up to 5.2 ppm), and beryllium (up to 4.56 ppm), consistent with a reduced tungsten skarn system.
Blake Morgan, President and CEO, stated: "As far as we are aware, this is the first ever soil geochemistry survey completed by a public company at Rowland, and returning a high value result of 0.14% WO3 is an excellent start. The anomalous soil results provide a baseline to interpret the expanded soil results once they arrive. Crucially, the soils line up with the contacts our UAV magnetics are mapping, which is the strongest possible vector for where to look next."
Given that the property has never been systematically explored, the orientation program was designed to ensure the main exploration phase is correctly targeted. The results show tungsten is strongly anomalous against background values of approximately 2 ppm WO3, with multiple samples exceeding 10 ppm, five above 50 ppm, and three above 100 ppm W. The anomalies are interpreted to reflect a tungsten-skarn system developed along a carbonate–intrusive contact with potentially mineralized northeast-southwest structures.
Based on these results, Western Star is mobilizing an expanded soil-sampling program to trace prospective skarn contacts outward from known workings and potential mineralized faults. The expanded program will be integrated with the UAV magnetic survey and field mapping to generate and prioritize drill targets for a maiden drill program at Rowland. The company views the strong response over both the Central zone and Rowland Main as validation that soil geochemistry reliably highlights prospective skarn-contact zones, allowing aggressive expansion of known zones and search for new discoveries.
The technical information in this release was reviewed by Jasper Mowatt, MIMMM, MAusIMM, a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. Soil samples were analyzed by ALS using method ME-MS41L with tungsten values reported in ppm and WO3 calculated as W × 1.2611.
