Tungsten and copper discovered deep underground at tin mine near Camborne
The discovery was made while drilling for tin at South Crofty, with tests also showing the tin reserves run further west than first thought
Cornish Metals has announced the final assay results from its ambitious 2026 surface drilling programme executed in the Roskear area of the South Crofty mine located in Cornwall.
The programme, designed to test extensions of known mineralisation, has yielded compelling discoveries, including high-grade tungsten and copper zones.
The 1,131-metre drill hole highlighted a new high-grade tungsten zone, intersected notable copper grades, and revealed newly identified tin-bearing structures.
This discovery comes as the tungsten market experiences a surge due to China's export controls, positioning tungsten as a strategically significant mineral.
Highlights of the drilling include multiple intersections of high-grade tin.
Lauren Beverage, Chief Geologist at South Crofty, commented on the findings: "Our drilling programme set out to explore the near-mine Exploration Target, and the results of SDD26_002 have demonstrated what we hoped.
"We unearthed known Roskear lodes at or close to anticipated positions, confirming mineralisation extends westwards as predicted by our geological model. While the tungsten discovery was not expected, its quality is impressive and underscores the mineral's growing importance as a critical resource."
Cornish Metals continues to focus on tin, with South Crofty’s production guidance based on tin-in-concentrate, despite the promising tungsten and copper findings. The recent assay results suggest potential for future tungsten concentrate production, supported by the design provision for implementing WHIMS (wet high-intensity magnetic separation) within the processing plant.
Historically, South Crofty has produced tungsten concentrate, adding further credibility to future potential operations.
The company is advancing South Crofty to become a secure domestic supply source of tin.
South Crofty is a historic underground tin mine leveraging existing infrastructure like multiple shafts, which can be utilised for future operations.
The project also aims to produce approximately 4,700 tonnes of tin-in-concentrate annually during the first five years of production and could become one of the primary producers of tin in Europe or North America.
Cornish Metals is committed to delivering a low environmental impact underground mine and supporting jobs in the local economy, contributing to a secure supply of tin, which is essential for electronic devices and electrical infrastructure globally.