Guardian Metal Resources’ Pilot Mountain project emerges as the sole US tungsten project with a recent prefeasibility study amid supply chain concerns.
Guardian Metal Resources announced a 59.6% after-tax internal rate of return and a one-year capital payback period for its Pilot Mountain tungsten project in Nevada. The project’s economics are based on current tungsten prices and position it as a leading domestic critical mineral opportunity in the US.
The Preliminary Feasibility Study marks the first prefeasibility-level assessment for a US tungsten project in over a decade. Approximately 90% of global tungsten supply currently originates from China, Russia, and North Korea, heightening strategic concerns for Western markets.
The project targets defense, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing sectors, aligning with US efforts to reduce reliance on foreign critical mineral sources. No immediate market reaction was disclosed in the release.