Nevada firm finds 1.78M tonnes of tungsten but NASA blocks mining

A Nevada-based minerals company has discovered what could be the largest known tungsten deposit in the United States, but federal restrictions imposed by NASA have blocked efforts to explore the full extent of the find. 3 Proton Lithium, a private firm specializing in critical minerals, announced the discovery of an inferred resource containing approximately 1.78 million tonnes of tungsten beneath the Great Basin Desert in eastern Nevada. The deposit, located within the Railroad Valley Minerals Project, is estimated to hold a potential in-ground value of around $152 billion based on current tungsten prices. The company's findings were revealed through recent drilling and resource assessment work conducted on a broader mineral system that includes lithium, boron, and potash deposits in underground salt beds. The area spans roughly 58 square miles near Ely, Nevada. According to Mining.com, the deposit could surpass existing U.S. reserves by more than five times, positioning it as a major asset for the nation's mineral resources. Tungsten, a rare metal known for its hardness and resistance to high temperatures, plays a crucial role in various industries, including aerospace, defense, and manufacturing. Its strategic importance has grown due to increasing demand from these sectors. Currently, China controls about 80% of global tungsten production, leaving the United States reliant on imports. This situation has raised concerns about supply chain security, prompting calls for greater domestic sourcing of critical minerals. Kevin Moore, chairman and chief financial officer of 3 Proton Lithium, emphasized the significance of the discovery beyond its economic implications. He described the project as a matter of national security, highlighting how the U.S. has lost its domestic tungsten industry while China has consolidated control over global supplies. Moore stated that the discovery represents a unique opportunity to bolster American self-sufficiency in critical materials. Despite the promising nature of the find, several challenges remain before the deposit can be developed into a functioning mine. The company must conduct further drilling, engineering studies, environmental assessments, and obtain necessary permits. Additionally, the commercial viability of the deposit depends on factors such as the quality and accessibility of the ore, processing costs, and infrastructure availability in the remote region. The most immediate hurdle, however, stems from a land restriction imposed by NASA. The space agency utilizes a portion of the Nevada desert for calibrating satellite instruments, ensuring accurate data collection. In response to NASA's concerns, the Bureau of Land Management restricted approximately 17 square miles of the area from new mining and exploration activities in 2023. This restriction affects part of 3 Proton Lithium's claims, preventing the company from conducting drilling operations in that specific zone. NASA has expressed concerns that mining activities could disrupt the physical integrity of the landscape, thereby affecting the precision of satellite calibration processes. The agency argues that maintaining the stability of the terrain is essential for the reliability of its scientific measurements. As a result, the company faces uncertainty regarding whether it will be able to access the full extent of the deposit or if alternative solutions can be found to accommodate both the mining interests and NASA's operational requirements. The discovery has sparked discussions among policymakers and industry experts about balancing national resource needs with scientific research priorities. While the potential economic benefits of the tungsten deposit are substantial, the conflict highlights the complexities involved in managing public lands for multiple purposes. The outcome of this situation will likely shape future approaches to mineral exploration and space-related activities in the region.