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| Pilot Mountain tungsten project |
Guardian Metal Resources Secures Pentagon Funding for Strategic Tungsten Supply
The Pilot Mountain tungsten project in Nevada is gaining strategic momentum after securing $6.2 million in funding from the US Department of Defense (DoD). Guardian Metal Resources (LON: GMET), through its US-based subsidiary Golden Metal Resources, will use the grant to complete a pre-feasibility study. This move underscores rising US concerns over tungsten supply security amid China’s dominance.
US DoD Funds Critical Mineral Projects to Reduce China Dependence
The Pilot Mountain tungsten project is the only US-based tungsten asset to receive this Pentagon award. Guardian is concurrently advancing its Tempiute project, also in Nevada. These initiatives signal Washington’s urgent reshoring agenda. Tungsten is vital to defense systems, particularly for high-density armor-piercing penetrators. Consequently, the DoD’s prioritization of domestic tungsten aligns with national security imperatives.
In contrast, the US has lacked commercial tungsten production since 2015. China now controls over 80% of global output, contributing 81,000 tons in 2023, per USGS. As a result, European tungsten prices spiked to a 12-year high in May due to China’s tightening export controls. The Pilot Mountain tungsten project thus emerges as a key counterweight to Chinese supply risks.
Resource Expansion and Exploration Strengthen Nevada’s Tungsten Hub
Guardian’s current resource estimate for Pilot Mountain, defined in 2017–2018, includes 12.53Mt grading 0.27% WO₃, with valuable copper, silver, and zinc credits. Recent drilling completed for the PFS aims to upgrade this estimate. Furthermore, the company has intersected high-grade gallium and expanded its land position by acquiring new claims in the Walker Lane mineral belt.
Meanwhile, the company staked new exploration targets at Tempiute and branded its expanded portfolio as the “Pilot North” tungsten project. CEO Oliver Friesen highlighted strong federal permitting support and fast-track signals from the Department of Interior. “We’re positioned to lead the reshoring of defense metals,” Friesen stated, reinforcing Guardian’s role in building a domestic tungsten supply chain.
ScrapInsight Commentary
This DoD investment validates the Pilot Mountain tungsten project as a cornerstone of US mineral independence. We expect upward price pressure on non-Chinese tungsten assets amid sustained geopolitical tension and EU-US procurement shifts. As domestic supply reactivates, expect permitting streamlining and investor interest in Nevada's emerging tungsten corridor.
