IRIS Metals Ltd. has kicked off its Phase I field exploration activities at the Finley Basin tungsten project in Montana, US, marking a key milestone in its initiative to secure a foothold in the North American critical minerals sector.
The company is preparing for a substantial maiden drilling campaign, with state and federal permit applications progressing smoothly following submission in March this year.
Subject to regulatory approvals, a 7,000-metre diamond core drilling program spanning 16 locations is slated to commence next month.
The upcoming campaign is specifically designed to validate and expand high-grade historical tungsten mineralisation discovered by industrial giant Union Carbide during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Union Carbide’s previous work identified a non-JORC compliant historical resource estimate of 850,000 tons at an average grade of 0.68 per cent tungsten trioxide.
On-ground preparatory work commenced in June, involving extensive surface mapping and sampling. In an innovative move, the exploration team has been conducting night-time traverses utilising ultraviolet lamps, a technique known as night lamping, to successfully locate and verify outcropping scheelite mineralisation on the ground.
IRIS Metals Chairman Chris Evans said: “Commencing field activities at Finley Basin is significant as we advance the project from highly prospective historical exploration into a modern drilling campaign.
“Located in a premier mining jurisdiction, Finley Basin provides exposure to tungsten, a strategically important metal with growing applications across defence, aerospace, energy, electronics and advanced manufacturing.
“As global demand continues to increase and Western governments prioritise supply chain security, Finley Basin is extremely well positioned.”
The Montana project significantly diversifies IRIS’ portfolio, adding tungsten exposure to its established lithium and rubidium assets in South Dakota.
The project also benefits from excellent infrastructure, year-round access, and close proximity to a fully permitted contract flotation mill just 30 kilometres away in Phillipsburg.
Initial assays from the drilling blitz are anticipated to flow through by the final quarter of 2026.
