Western Star Resources Inc. (CSE: WSR) (OTC: WSRIF) announced on November 5, 2025, that it has entered into an agreement to acquire an option on the past producing Rowland tungsten project located in the Jarbidge mining district of Nevada. The acquisition underscores the company's strategic focus on critical minerals essential for national security and domestic supply chain resilience.
The Rowland Property is a high-grade tungsten project with reported values of 3.38% WO₃, according to the 1988 Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology. The property includes a road-accessible past-producing mine with workings consisting of two shallow shafts and several hundred feet of open cuts. Historical production includes 4.5 tons of ore shipped in 1943 containing 3.38% WO₃ to Metals Reserve Co., and approximately 1,000 tons of ore grading 0.5% to 1.0% WO₃ produced between 1954 and 1956. The mineralization occurs as scheelite in a garnet-epidote-quartz-calcite skarn, with associated molybdenite, powellite, and sulfides.
The acquisition aligns with recent U.S. government directives to secure domestic tungsten supply. Tungsten is classified as a critical mineral, indispensable for defense, aerospace, energy, and semiconductor industries. The U.S. currently has no domestic commercial production, with approximately 85% of global supply controlled by China. This dependency creates a strategic vulnerability that the government is actively addressing through executive orders, federal grants, and defense-sector support for qualifying projects.
Blake Morgan, CEO of Western Star, stated, "Securing a domestic source of tungsten is not just a business opportunity, it’s a matter of national importance. The acquisition of the Past Producing Rowland Property aligns perfectly with Western Star’s mission to deliver value to shareholders while supporting U.S. government priorities to strengthen domestic supply chains for critical minerals." Morgan added that due diligence exceeded expectations and that the company plans to mobilize crews for geophysics, channel sampling, and mapping as soon as possible, with the goal of advancing the project to a drill-ready stage for a maiden program early next year.
Under the agreement, Western Star will acquire all rights, title, and interest in the underlying option agreement. Total consideration includes CAD $60,000 and 1,000,000 common shares of Western Star. An initial payment of CAD $20,000 is due within five business days, with a deferred payment of CAD $40,000 upon conditional exchange approval. The shares will be issued upon closing and subject to a four-month resale restriction. Additional milestone considerations include share issuances and cash payments upon achieving exploration targets, such as increasing claim area by 30% and identifying rock chip samples grading above 2.0% WO₃, completing drilling intersecting at least 10 meters averaging 0.7% WO₃, and filing a NI 43-101 compliant resource estimate of at least 5 million tonnes at ≥0.7% WO₃. The vendors retain a 1.5% NSR royalty, with Western Star having the right to buy back 1.0% for CAD $1,000,000.
The underlying option to earn a 100% interest in the Property requires payments of US$15,000 by July 1, 2026; US$15,000 by July 1, 2027; and US$20,000 by July 1, 2028. Upon completion, Western Star may exercise the option, subject to a 0.5% production royalty.
Derrick Strickland, a qualified person under NI 43-101, has reviewed the technical information in this release. The Rowland Property represents a strategic asset for Western Star, complementing its flagship gold and silver project in Canada and positioning the company at the forefront of U.S. efforts to rebuild domestic supply chains for critical minerals.
