Guardian Metal Resources Advances Pilot Mountain Tungsten Project with $6M DoD Funding

Guardian Metal’s Pilot Mountain Tungsten Project Gains Critical DoD Support

Guardian Metal Resources (LON: GMET) received a $6.2 million award from the US Department of Defense to advance its Pilot Mountain tungsten project in Nevada. This funding allows Guardian’s US subsidiary, Golden Metal Resources, to complete a pre-feasibility study (PFS) for the project near Hawthorne. Guardian Metal is the only tungsten company with US-based assets to receive DoD funding. This highlights the strategic importance of domestic tungsten supply for national security.

The tungsten market was valued at around $5 billion in 2023. It plays a key role in defense applications such as penetrators—dense, armor-piercing projectiles essential to US Department of Defense contracts. Since US tungsten production ended in 2015 due to low prices and competition from China, the country has relied heavily on imports. China currently dominates global tungsten supply, producing over 80% of the world’s 81,000 tons last year, according to USGS data. Guardian Metal’s project is part of a growing push to reshore critical minerals.

Expanding US Tungsten Resources Amid Rising Market Demand

Guardian Metal CEO Oliver Friesen, an experienced Nevada geologist, views Pilot Mountain as the largest tungsten deposit in the US. The company recently completed drilling to support an updated mineral resource estimate, originally defined at 12.53 million tonnes grading 0.27% WO3, with valuable copper, silver, and zinc credits. High-grade gallium was also intersected at Pilot Mountain and Tempiute projects, adding further resource value.

Guardian Metal also acquired additional mining claims near Pilot Mountain to form the Pilot North project. With supportive permitting tailwinds under the current US administration, the company anticipates fast-tracking defense metal projects. This aligns with growing US investor demand for domestic mines to secure supply chains critical for national security.

SuperMetalPrice Commentary:

Guardian Metal’s receipt of $6.2 million in DoD funding marks a key milestone in revitalizing US tungsten production. As global supply chains tighten and geopolitical risks rise, the strategic push for domestic critical minerals accelerates. Guardian’s progress in Nevada positions it to lead reshoring efforts and supply essential tungsten for defense and industrial uses. Investors and policymakers should watch closely as Guardian advances its projects, potentially easing US reliance on Chinese tungsten dominance and strengthening national security.