Western Star Resources Inc. (CSE: WSR) has acquired a 100% interest in the past-producing Eagle Point Tungsten Mine in Hidalgo County, New Mexico, the company announced June 15. The acquisition adds 24 lode mining claims covering a historic tungsten skarn deposit that produced approximately 1,800 tons of ore during World War II but has never been explored using modern techniques.
The Eagle Point property features eight skarn bodies exposed at surface, with recent sampling by the U.S. Geological Survey returning grades as high as 27.6% WO3 and 0.98% molybdenum, according to data from the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources. These results far exceed historical estimates of 0.5% WO3 from surface trenching, which suggested 100,000 to 150,000 tons of mineralization.
Tungsten is classified as a critical mineral by the U.S. government, with approximately 85% of global supply controlled by China and no domestic commercial production, according to the USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025. The acquisition aligns with federal efforts to rebuild domestic supply chains for defense, aerospace, and advanced manufacturing applications.
The property was the subject of multiple federal examinations between 1941 and 1957, including a Defense Minerals Exploration Administration contract signed in 1955 that would have funded 75% of a drilling program. That contract was never executed, leaving principal exploration objectives untested. “Eagle Point is the kind of asset you build a company around,” said Blake Morgan, CEO and President of Western Star, in the release. “It brings together everything we look for in one place – high-grade tungsten, a documented production history, eight separate skarn bodies exposed at surface, and a tier-one U.S. jurisdiction – yet it has never once been touched by modern exploration.”
Historical records indicate that during World War II, ore was shipped to the U.S. government’s Deming stockpile before the wartime purchase program was canceled. Government examiners estimated a mineralized system of approximately 170,000 tons from surface work, including 215 feet of trenching completed in 1954. The company considers these historical estimates as a starting point for its maiden work programs but cautions they should not be relied upon as current mineral resources.
Western Star plans a systematic exploration program including a high-resolution drone magnetic geophysical survey, systematic rock-chip and soil geochemical sampling, and field mapping with ultraviolet fluorescence surveying to identify scheelite. The results will be used to prioritize targets for subsequent drill testing. “Assets that check every one of those boxes simply don’t come along often, and Eagle Point anchors the U.S. critical-minerals platform we’re building,” Morgan said.
The acquisition was completed for C$150,000 cash and 4,000,000 common shares, with a 1.5% net smelter returns royalty granted to the vendors. The company may repurchase 1% of the NSR for C$1,000,000, reducing the royalty to 0.5%. The transaction remains subject to customary regulatory approvals.
The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed by Jasper Mowatt, a Qualified Person under NI 43-101. The company notes that historical estimates are not compliant with current standards and should not be treated as current mineral resources.
