Viking Mines (ASX:VKA) announced a technical milestone at its Linka Tungsten Project, achieving a 16-fold increase in tungsten grade through initial metallurgical testwork.
Using a relatively simple sighter gravity separation method, the company successfully upgraded a calculated feed grade of 1.4% WO3 to a high-grade scheelite concentrate assaying at 22.9% WO3.
The first-stage "rougher" process yielded a recovery rate of 63.7% using a coarse grind size, which the company expects to further improve through upcoming flotation and grinding optimisations.
The results are particularly impactful because gravity separation is a mechanical process that leverages the high density of scheelite.
By avoiding the expensive chemical reagents and complex infrastructure required for traditional flotation, Viking is positioning the project for a low-CAPEX, rapid-start development pathway.