Episode Details

In the episode, we chat with Oliver Friesen, CEO of Guardian Metal Resources, a UK based development company focused on critical and precious metals exploration. The company owns the flagship Pilot Mountain Project in Nevada, which is believed to host the largest undeveloped tungsten deposit on American soil.

Oliver is a geologist and has over 10 year’s experience in both the mining and oil and gas sectors and has worked in Canada, the United States, Australia, and Africa.  He founded Guardian Metal Resources in 2021 and led the IPO in May 2023, and we discuss the history and background of the company, the tungsten market, the uses of tungsten, Nevada as a mining jurisdiction, recycling of tungsten and much more.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Guardian Metal Resources is primarily focused on tungsten exploration and development, with its flagship Pilot Mountain project in Nevada believed to host the largest undeveloped tungsten deposit in the U.S. The company has also acquired another significant asset, Tempaiute, which was formerly the largest tungsten-producing mine in the 1980s.
• The tungsten market is currently experiencing tight supply due to geopolitical factors, with China, Russia, and North Korea controlling approximately 90% of global tungsten production. Recent export restrictions from China have further intensified the need for domestic sources of tungsten in the U.S.
• While defence applications drive short-term demand for tungsten, the metal is also crucial in various high-tech industries, including aerospace, mining, and renewable energy technologies. Its unique properties, such as high melting point and density, make it irreplaceable in many applications.
• Although recycling efforts for tungsten are increasing, they currently supply only about 20-25% of annual consumption in the U.S. The growing demand, particularly from defense sectors, means that new mine supply is essential to meet the shortfall.

BEST MOMENTS

"We are firmly positioned, we believe, as the leader in U.S.-focused tungsten exploration and development." 

"When Russia invaded Ukraine, it became clear that the Western world needed safe domestic sources of these important input metals." 

"The U.S. has no domestic supply. It hasn't mined any primary tungsten for over 10 years now." 

"It's a really unique metal because it has the highest melting point of any metal on the planet."

"We're seeing a lot of investors pick up on this... critical metals is such an important global narrative right now."

VALUABLE RESOURCES

Mail:        rob@mining-international.org

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rob-tyson-3a26a68/

X:              https://twitter.com/MiningRobTyson 
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/DigDeepTheMiningPodcast 

Web:        http://www.mining-international.org

This episode is sponsored by Hawcroft, leaders in property risk management since 1992. They offer:

• Insurance risk surveys recognised as an industry standard
• Construction risk reviews
• Asset criticality assessments and more

Working across over 600 sites globally, Hawcroft supports mining, processing, smelting, power, refining, ports, and rail operations. For bespoke property risk management services, visit www.hawcroft.com

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