Western Star Resources Inc. (CSE: WSR) (OTC: WSRIF) (FRA: 4K2) has provided a corporate and exploration update following a period of significant growth, during which the Company assembled and began advancing a portfolio of past-producing tungsten assets in the United States. Since the end of 2025, Western Star has built a portfolio of three active U.S. tungsten projects across Nevada and New Mexico, expanded the past-producing Rowland Tungsten Property by approximately 170%, and acquired the adjacent past-producing White Star Tungsten Project, creating an approximately six-kilometre prospective exploration corridor across the Company's Nevada position. The Company also acquired a 100% interest in the past-producing Eagle Point Tungsten Project in New Mexico.
The Company has commenced modern systematic exploration programs at Rowland and White Star, including high-resolution UAV magnetic geophysical work and extensive surface exploration. At Rowland, an approximately one-kilometre tungsten-skarn geochemical corridor has been identified, including a peak soil result of approximately 1,425 ppm WO(3), equivalent to approximately 0.14% WO(3). Drill-permitting activities have commenced at Rowland, and the Company has engaged Dahrouge Geological Consulting to assist with the evaluation and future exploration of its Nevada and New Mexico tungsten assets. Technical work aimed at defining drill targets across the known surface mineralization at Eagle Point has begun, with a maiden drill program targeted during 2026, subject to permitting and other customary considerations. The Company has also closed approximately C$3.69 million through an oversubscribed private placement and submitted an application in response to a U.S. Defense Industrial Base Consortium solicitation relating to reliable supplies of strategic critical minerals.
Western Star's U.S. tungsten portfolio now provides exposure to three historically productive tungsten systems. At Eagle Point, historical production includes approximately 1,800 tons of scheelite-bearing material, and historical U.S. Government estimates outline significant near-surface tungsten-bearing material. Eight historically mapped skarn bodies exist, and modern USGS sampling has returned up to 27.6% WO(3) and 0.98% Mo. A U.S. Government-supported exploration program was planned but never executed. At Rowland, historical production exceeds approximately 1,000 tons, with reported grades reaching approximately 3.38% WO(3). The property has been expanded approximately 170%, more than 17 historical workings identified, and the first phase of an integrated modern exploration program completed. At White Star, part of a broader historical tungsten-mining complex, reported historical production includes approximately 10,000 tons grading approximately 1.0% WO(3) during 1954, with additional production in 1956. The acquisition of White Star provides a substantially larger district-scale exploration position adjoining Rowland.
Eagle Point is a key asset within Western Star's portfolio. The Company's objective is to systematically test the historically identified mineralization using modern exploration and drilling and, if supported by sufficient geological and analytical data, advance Eagle Point toward the potential preparation of a maiden mineral resource estimate in accordance with NI 43-101. Historical U.S. Government work identified substantial near-surface tungsten mineralization through trenching, surface sampling and geological mapping. Historical estimates reported various tonnage and grade ranges, including approximately 100,000 to 150,000 tons grading approximately 0.5% WO(3), while other historical government examinations outlined approximately 150,000 to 200,000 tons of scheelite-bearing material. These estimates are historical in nature; a Qualified Person has not completed sufficient work to classify them as current mineral resources or mineral reserves, and Western Star is not treating them as such.
Western Star intends to evaluate the geological basis of that historical work through modern exploration and drilling. The planned program is designed not only to test historically identified mineralized areas, but also to assess whether tungsten-bearing skarn mineralization continues along strike, at depth or into areas that received limited historical attention. This provides two distinct exploration objectives at Eagle Point: resource definition and resource expansion potential. The resource definition objective is to drill the historically identified mineralized zones with sufficient modern geological, analytical and QA/QC information to determine whether the data can ultimately support the preparation of a maiden NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate. The resource expansion potential objective is to test extensions of the known skarn bodies along strike and at depth, together with additional historically mapped skarn occurrences and targets generated through modern geophysics, mapping and geochemistry. There can be no assurance that exploration will result in the definition of a mineral resource or that mineralization will extend beyond historically identified areas.
Several attributes make Eagle Point a priority for Western Star. Approximately 1,800 tons of tungsten-bearing material was historically mined and shipped from Eagle Point, with historical grades reported at approximately 0.5% WO(3). Historical federal exploration work outlined significant near-surface tungsten-bearing material through trenching and surface sampling. USGS/NMBGMR sampling returned a selective composite skarn-outcrop sample grading 27.6% WO(3), 219,000 ppm tungsten, and 0.98% molybdenum. The sample is selective in nature and is not necessarily representative of average mineralization across the property. Historical mapping identified approximately eight separate skarn/tactite bodies around the principal workings. Despite extensive surface work, the system received very limited historical drilling. During the 1950s, the U.S. Government entered into a Defense Minerals Exploration Administration agreement to support further exploration of Eagle Point, but the proposed program, which included underground development and diamond drilling, was never executed. Consequently, several of the principal exploration objectives identified during the historical government work remained untested.
The Company's near-term objective is to design a program capable of systematically testing the historical, non-compliant estimate. Subject to permitting, final drill design, contractor availability and other customary considerations, Western Star is targeting a maiden drill program at Eagle Point during 2026. The program would represent an important step in advancing Eagle Point from a historically recognized tungsten occurrence toward modern exploration and potential resource definition. Western Star intends for drilling to test the principal historically identified mineralized zones, investigate grade and geological continuity, test the geometry and thickness of tungsten-bearing skarn, provide modern geological and analytical information, test selected extensions along strike and at depth, evaluate additional targets generated through modern exploration, provide information that may, if sufficient, support future mineral-resource estimation, and establish the geological framework required for subsequent, potentially larger exploration campaigns.
Blake Morgan, President and CEO of Western Star Resources, commented: “Eagle Point is an important opportunity for Western Star because we are not starting from first principles. The project has historical production, historical U.S. Government exploration, multiple skarn bodies exposed at surface, historical estimates of tungsten-bearing material and modern USGS sampling that returned up to 27.6% WO(3). A government-supported program was once planned to advance Eagle Point through underground development and diamond drilling, but that drilling was never completed. Our goal is to bring modern exploration standards to that historical opportunity. We intend to drill the historically identified mineralization and generate the geological and analytical information required to determine whether Eagle Point can support a maiden NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate. At the same time, we intend to test beyond the historical footprint. With eight historically mapped skarn bodies, high-grade tungsten exposed at surface and limited drilling across the broader system, we believe Eagle Point warrants a systematic program that evaluates both the known mineralization and its potential extensions along strike and at depth. Rowland is also moving toward drilling in Nevada, and White Star gives us an adjoining district-scale exploration opportunity. In less than a year, Western Star has assembled three past-producing U.S. tungsten projects, strengthened its balance sheet, put technical teams in the field and begun moving these assets toward drilling. The next phase is execution.”
Western Star's progress since the end of 2025 has positioned the Company for a new phase of development. The Company's strategy has progressed through three stages: acquire, define, and drill & expand. Western Star believes the combination of historical production, high-grade tungsten occurrences, multiple untested targets, modern exploration programs, a strengthened treasury and exposure to U.S. critical-mineral supply priorities provides a differentiated position within the North American tungsten exploration sector. With Rowland advancing toward drilling, White Star undergoing its first integrated modern exploration program and Eagle Point being prepared for a maiden drill campaign, Western Star intends to advance its U.S. tungsten portfolio in a disciplined and systematic manner through the remainder of 2026. The Company's objective remains clear: discover and define meaningful domestic tungsten resources capable of contributing to a secure North American critical-mineral supply chain. There can be no assurance that exploration will result in the discovery or definition of a mineral resource or an economically viable mineral deposit.
The scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by a consultant to the company, Jasper Mowatt, MIMMM (Membership No. 0486653) and MAusIMM (Membership No. 3178851), a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
