Tuesday, 02 January 2024 12:17 GMT

Allied Critical Metals Expands Santa Helena Breccia In Borralha With Long Tungsten Intercepts And Confirms High-Grade Trend


(MENAFN- Newsfile Corp) Highlights:

  • The latest drill results build on Bo_RC_14/25 drill hole (previously released as 12.0 metres @ 4.27% WO3 from 252.0 metres, incl. 6.0 metres @ 8.39% WO3 from 252.0 metres) and collectively suggests a larger and higher-grade Breccia complex than previously modeled.
  • Bo_RC_17/25 results included 100.0 metres @ 0.21% WO3 from 52.0 metres, including
    • 32.0 metres @ 0.33% WO3 (MF 10.6 m%) from 92.0 metres, including
    • 14.0 metres @ 0.52% WO3 (MF 5.2 m%) from 106.0 metres, including
    • 6.0 metres @ 0.74% WO3 (MF 4.4 m%) from 110.0 metres
      South infill drill hole confirms bulk-mineable medium-grade core with well-defined high-grade corridors.
  • Bo_RC_15/25 results included 2.0 metres @ 0.97% WO3 from 164.0 metres
    South-west deep step-out drill hole with a high-grade intersection consistent with previously reported Bo_RC_14/25 drill hole.
  • Bo_RC_22/25 results included 64.0 metres @ 0.12% WO3 from 284.0 metres, including
    • 16.0 metres @ 0.21% WO3 from 316.0 metres
      New northern deep lode opens a new northern vector for resource growth.

Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - September 11, 2025) - Allied Critical Metals Inc. (CSE: ACM) (OTCQB: ACMIF) (FSE: 0VJ0) ("Allied" or the "Company"), which is focused on its 100% owned past producing Borralha and Vila Verde tungsten projects in northern Portugal, is pleased to announce additional significant assay results from its ongoing 4,200 metres reverse circulation (RC) drilling campaign at its Borralha Tungsten Project. The latest results from drill holes Bo_RC_15/25, Bo_RC_17/25, and Bo_RC_22/25 extend mineralization both west and north of the previously announced Bo_RC_14/25 high-grade intercept, reinforcing that the Santa Helena Breccia within the Borralha Project is emerging as a larger and higher-grade orebody than previously modeled. The Company will commence an additional fully funded 1,528 metre drilling in the fourth quarter of 2025 to build off the drilling success in July.

The results are especially timely as tungsten price has now reached a new high of U.S.$550/MTU, which is an increase of more than 40% over the past four months as demand for the critical mineral increases in the face of further supply chain restrictions from non-Western countries [Source: FastMarkets].

Roy Bonnell, CEO & Director of Allied, commented: "These thick, continuous intervals in the central-south and the new northern deep lode materially expand the working envelope at the Santa Helena Breccia in Borralha. Together with the previously reported ultra-high-grade intercept in Bo_RC_14/25, we see clear evidence of a system that is both bigger and better than we initially assumed. This is exactly the kind of data we want feeding into the upcoming Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) and Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA). Moreover, the results demonstrate the potential of Borralha as a key strategic, safe, and secure source of tungsten for Portugal, the EU and NATO."

João Barros, President & COO of Allied, stated: "Tungsten is recognized by the European Union as both a critical and strategic raw material under the CRMA. With Europe producing less than 3% of its annual needs and facing increasing Chinese export restrictions, the Borralha Project represents a vital opportunity to strengthen secure, Western-aligned supply chains. Our work directly supports the EU target of sourcing at least 10% of its critical raw materials domestically by 2030, while reinforcing Portugal's role as a key contributor to Europe's strategic independence. "

General (Ret.) James A. "Spider" Marks, Director of the Company's U.S. subsidiary, stated: "Expanding the mineral resource at the Borralha Project is an essential next step in path to fulfilling the immense need in Portugal, the EU, NATO and the United States for tungsten powders, concentrates and other byproducts. The U.S. and NATO defense military complexes are dependent on tungsten. Without domestic supply of tungsten, the Borralha Project becomes a very important piece to the critical mineral supply chains for the United States and NATO."

These latest drilling results are highly significant because they combine both scale and grade. The long intercepts at 0.21-0.33% WO3 in Bo_RC_17/25 are particularly meaningful in wolframite systems. In addition, the drilling program is clearly growing the footprint of the Breccia complex. The Bo_RC_22/25 delineates a northern deep lode, while Bo_RC_15/25 ties the west-deep high-grade corridor back to the main body-both lines of evidence supporting a larger Santa Helena Breccia, the principal mineralized body at Borralha Project.

Table 1 - Drill Hole Collar Locations

Drill Hole ID Coordinates (WGS84) Az.(o) Dip.(o) PFD (m) DEPTH (m)
Bo_RC_14/25 585445 4611405 109 80 250 264.00
Bo_RC_15/25 585347 4611368 109 70 300 255.00
Bo_RC_16/25 585406 4611329 105 60 240 251.00
Bo_RC_17/25 585426 4611295 109 75 250 255.00
Bo_RC_18/25 585461 4611431 109 75 300 241.00
Bo_RC_19/25 585470 4611493 109 82 350 247.00
Bo_RC_21/25 585484 4611552 109 85 400 370.00
Bo_RC_22/25 585484 4611552 109 70 360 375.00
Bo_RC_26/25 585586 4611449 289 60 400 287.00

Table 2 - Drill Hole Interval Highlights

Drill Hole ID From (m) To (m) DH length (m) [1] True factor [1] True Width (m) [1] WO 3 (%)
Bo_RC_14/25 52.0 64.0 12.0 tbd [2] - [2] 4.27
incl. 52.0 58.0 6.0 tbd [2] - [2] 8.39
Bo_RC_15/25 164.0 166.0 2.0 0.88 1.8 0.97
Bo_RC_17/25 52.0 152.0 100.0 0.90 89.9 0.21
incl. 92.0 124.0 32.0 0.90 28.8 0.33
incl. 106.0 120.0 14.0 0.90 12.6 0.52
incl. 110.0 116.0 6.0 0.90 5.4 0.74
Bo_RC_22/25 284.0 348.0 64.0 tbd [2] - [2] 0.12
incl. 316.0 332.0 16.0 tbd [2] - [2] 0.21

Notes: [1] Reported intervals are downhole lengths. Estimated true widths were calculated from hole orientation and the interpreted geometry of the mineralized corridors. Estimates may vary locally where geometry changes. Where intervals fall outside the resource block-model domains, true widths are not estimated and only downhole lengths are reported. [2] True widths are unknown.



Figure 1 – Drill collar plan showing planned holes for the ongoing 5,728 m RC campaign at the Borralha Project. The red outline delineates the main mineralized breccia zone.

To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit:



Figure 2 – Geological Cross-Section for hole Bo_RC_17/25 .

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Geologic Interpretation

The geologic interpretation indicates that the Santa Helena Breccia is expanding: the combination of broad medium-grade intervals and discrete high-grade intercepts points to a larger, better-connected breccia body than previously modeled. Priority vectors for follow-up include the west-dip high-grade trend (Bo_RC_14/25 and Bo_RC_15/25) and the northern wider deep lode (Bo_RC_22/25), which will guide near-term drilling and feed the Q4 2025 MRE and subsequent PEA workstreams.

Next steps

Ongoing drilling continues to target west-deep and northern extensions while tightening spacing across the MRE backbone. Additional assays from completed holes will be released as received and validated. The program remains aligned with the timeline toward an updated MRE (Q4 2025) and PEA thereafter.

Technical Information and Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC)

Drilling was completed using reverse-circulation (RC). All sample bags were pre-labelled with a unique internal sequence number used consistently for the assay sample and corresponding reject. Sampling was conducted on 2.0 m intervals for analytics. For each 2.0 m interval, two 1.0 m reject samples were also collected as representative splits. Splitting was performed at the rig via a rotary splitter integral to the RC cyclone.

Sampling followed pre-prepared sample lists that recorded downhole metreage, sequence, and the placement of Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) and field duplicates. CRMs were inserted at a rate of 1 in 20 samples (5%) and field duplicates at 1 in 20 samples (5%), arranged so that every 10th sample alternated between a CRM and a duplicate.

Analytical and reject samples were boxed at the drill site and transported by company personnel to the project core/logging facility. Analytical samples were stored on labelled pallets pending direct shipment to ALS's preparation laboratory in Seville, Spain. Pulps and rejects were subsequently stored securely in the project logging room.

At ALS Seville, samples were crushed to 70% passing 2 mm, riffle-split to ~250 g, and pulverized using hardened steel to 85% passing 75 μm. Pulps were shipped to ALS Loughrea (Ireland) for analysis. The primary analytical method was ME-MS81 (lithium borate fusion with ICP-MS finish). Base metals were also reported using ME-4ACD81 (four-acid digestion with ICP-MS finish). Over-limit tungsten results were re-assayed using W-XRF15b (lithium borate fusion with XRF). Analytical results were delivered directly by ALS to the Company via secure electronic transfer.

To the best of the Company's knowledge, no drilling, sampling, recovery, or other factors have been identified that would materially affect the accuracy or reliability of the data referenced herein.

Where reported, metal factor (m·%WO3) is the product of interval length and grade and is provided as supplemental context only. Primary disclosure remains the reported grade and interval length (and true width where known).

Qualified Person

The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mr. Vítor Arezes, BSc, MIMMM (QMR) (Membership No. 703197, Vice-President Exploration of Allied Critical Metals, who is a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Mr. Arezes is not independent of Allied Critical Metals Inc. as he is an officer of the Company.

Understanding Tungsten

To understand tungsten, it is critical to understand the difference between wolframite tungsten mineralization and scheelite tungsten mineralization. Scheelite often reports higher grades (0.3%-1.0% WO3) but is more costly and complex to process, requiring flotation methods with higher capital and operating expenditures and lower recoveries.i In contrast, wolframite, which is the focus of Allied, can be processed more efficiently using gravity and magnetic separation, resulting in lower costs and higher recoveries, making lower grades (~0.15%-0.25% WO3) economically viable in wolframite deposits. For example, a wolframite deposit with 0.4% WO3 over 3 metres can be more profitable than a scheelite deposit with 0.7% WO3 over the same interval due to lower processing costs and higher recovery rates.ii

In Western exploration drilling, tungsten grades typically range from 0.3% to 1.0% WO3.iii The cut-off grade for economic viability is generally around 0.1% WO3, with highly efficient operations able to mine at grades as low as 0.08% WO3. Skarn deposits, a common deposit type, typically range from 0.34% to 1.4% WO3, with intercepts of 0.4% WO3 over 1-5 metres considered very good and 0.7% WO3 over 1-3 metres considered very high-grade.iv Intercept lengths can range from 0.6 metres to over 100 metres, with longer intercepts at strong grades generally preferred for economic mining.

Published exploration results in Western jurisdictions demonstrate the standards for wolframite, with reported intercepts such as ~9-15 m @ 0.6-0.8% WO3, ~18 m @ 1.0% WO3, and typical intervals of 1-5 m @ 0.25-0.5% WO3. A result like 0.5% WO3 over 3 metres is generally considered strong within Western tungsten exploration benchmarks, especially for wolframite tungsten mineralization.v

It is also important to recognize that China, Russia, and North Korea control approximately 87% of the world's tungsten supply, using cheap labor and minimal environmental standards in authoritarian regimes. vi As a result, production costs and grades in these countries are not comparable to Western projects, which operate under higher labor, ESG, and energy cost structures. Evaluating projects outside these regions provides a realistic benchmark for what grades and intercepts are economically viable while supporting secure, NATO-aligned supply chains.

For Allied, this context is significant. Wolframite tungsten grades, ranging from 0.2% to 1.0% WO3 are strong global wolframite benchmark values. The Company's focus on wolframite ensures lower processing costs and higher recoveries, supporting project economics even at lower grades. Allied's operations in secure jurisdictions align with Western critical mineral needs, avoiding geopolitical risks associated with China and Russia while positioning the Company to benefit from growing tungsten demand across defense, aerospace, and electrification sectors. Allied's strong grades, low-cost processing advantages, and secure location position it as a strategic and responsible tungsten exploration company, well placed to support robust project economics in a rising-demand market. vii

* The results and intercepts referenced are drawn from publicly available disclosures of third-party mineral projects and are presented for industry benchmarking and comparison purposes only. Allied has no interests in those projects or entities.

ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS,

"Roy Bonnell"

Roy Bonnell, CEO and Director

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