Tungsten West produces first trial concentrate at Hemerdon mine in UK

Tungsten West (LON: TUN) has successfully generated its first tungsten concentrate from the ongoing mineral processing trial towards restarting the Hemerdon mine in Devon, England.

The trial is being undertaken as part of a program focused on testing and optimizing the performance of key sections of the mine’s processing facility. The program is part of Tungsten West’s approach to de-risking operations and gathering technical data essential for the planned restart of full-scale production.

Tungsten is a smaller market, with an estimated value of around $5 billion in 2023. But the industries that depend on it are getting bigger, and it is the material of choice for a key defense application – what the military calls penetrators – high-density, armour-piercing projectiles.

Hemerdon, formerly known as Drakelands mine, or the Hemerdon Ball or Hemerdon Bal mine, has a history of mining activity. Operations date back to 1918, with production during both World Wars, according to the company’s website.

Further exploration and feasibility work were carried out in the 1980s. The site was later developed into a modern operation and produced tungsten and tin between August 2015 and October 2018 under previous operators. The mine is located 7 miles northeast of Plymouth, and is one of the largest tungsten resources in the world, the Plympton-headquartered miner said.

Tungsten West said the first concentrate production marks an important milestone in restarting operations at Hemerdon — a strategically important project to the UK and Europe that could provide a secure supply of tungsten outside of China, with restart of operations anticipated by late 2026.

“The progress we are making in this processing trial is an important milestone in restarting operations at Hemerdon and provides confidence to our neighbours, the environment agency, our investors and off-takers that we are moving towards production,” Tungsten West CEO Jeff Court said in a news release.

“We have ensured that all activities throughout this trial have been conducted to high environmental and operational standards,” Court continued. “As the need for a diversified source of tungsten intensifies, Hemerdon becomes an even more important strategic asset.”

Tungsten West’s London-listed shares closed the day up 12%. The company has a £21.28 million ($28 million) market capitalization.