EQ Resources (ASX: EQR) unlocks 86% tungsten recovery at Wolfram Camp as XRT trials validate regional hub ambitions

EQ Resources Limited (ASX: EQR), the Australian tungsten mining and processing company driving advanced mineral recovery through sensor-based technologies, has reported strong preliminary results from its X-ray Transmission (XRT) sorting trials at Wolfram Camp in Far North Queensland. Conducted in partnership with TOMRA Sorting Solutions and the University of Queensland’s Sustainable Minerals Institute, the results validate 86% tungsten recovery from historical ore stockpiles—laying the groundwork for a broader regional tungsten hub strategy.

The development builds on EQ Resources Limited’s operational success at its flagship Mt Carbine site, where the basic materials company has already commercialised advanced sorting processes. Now, with these promising results from Wolfram Camp, the critical minerals producer is preparing to scale a low-impact, capital-efficient resource recovery model across North Queensland.

Why EQ Resources is trialling XRT sorting at Wolfram Camp

EQ Resources Limited has emerged as a leader in tungsten pre-concentration using sensor-based sorting, most notably at its Mt Carbine operation, where legacy tailings and low-grade stockpiles were reprocessed into economically viable resources. The latest Wolfram Camp trial extends this model to a dormant site granted to the company under Queensland’s Abandoned Mine Lands Program.

The trial focused on two bulk samples—WBS Parrot (ore stockpile) and WBS Combined (waste composite)—processed using TOMRA XRT technology. The program received financial support through a AUD 250,000 grant from the Queensland METS Collaborative Projects Fund. The samples were screened, sized, and tested to evaluate their tungsten (WO₃) and molybdenum (Mo) content across multiple size fractions, while also assessing XRT sorting response in each grade category.

According to EQ Resources Limited, the trial results not only reaffirmed the technical feasibility of reprocessing historical surface stockpiles but also aligned with the company’s long-term vision of consolidating mining and processing infrastructure into a scalable regional tungsten production hub.

What were the results of the Wolfram Camp XRT sorting trials?

The WBS Parrot ore sample demonstrated 86% recovery of tungsten using XRT sorting, with a sixteenfold upgrade in tungsten grade achieved in the -26.5mm to +6.7mm size fraction. The recovered concentrate increased from an original 0.10% WO₃ to 1.59% WO₃. Mass yields remained lean, with only 5–10% of the total feed mass required to produce this concentrate, significantly reducing downstream processing volumes and environmental impact.

In parallel, the WBS Combined waste stockpile composite, while yielding lower recoveries, offered valuable insights. It showed that 75% of the contained tungsten was concentrated in fines under 6.7mm, with a head grade of 0.16% WO₃. These fine fractions can be recovered via gravity-based methods without additional crushing or processing, supporting a low-impact recovery approach.

Molybdenum recovery across both samples was more modest, ranging between 20–35% depending on the particle size, though grade upgrades were also recorded—particularly a sevenfold increase in the -26.5mm to +6.7mm fraction of the waste composite sample.

These findings underscore the ability of EQ Resources Limited to unlock new economic potential from previously abandoned mine materials and de-risk capital deployment through modular pre-concentration processes.

How XRT sorting supports EQ Resources’ regional tungsten hub vision

EQ Resources Limited is leveraging its dual operational base in Australia and Spain to drive innovation in critical minerals extraction, especially tungsten, which has been flagged by the Australian government as a strategic resource. The company’s technology-led recovery process at Mt Carbine has already transformed over 12 million tonnes of uneconomic tailings into feedstock for commercial operations.

At its Spanish Barruecopardo mine (operated via Saloro), the addition of a third XRT sorter has improved scheelite recovery above 90% while reducing waste volumes by up to 90%, effectively lowering costs and enhancing throughput. These learnings now inform the rollout at Wolfram Camp.

Executive Chairman Oliver Kleinhempel stated that the results at Wolfram Camp provide clear proof of concept. He added that the results support a future strategy in which legacy stockpiles can be rehabilitated into feedstock without full-scale mining, significantly cutting capex while generating community and environmental value.

The strategy envisions a hub-and-spoke model: Mt Carbine would act as the core processing centre, while satellite operations such as Wolfram Camp could deliver sorted ore for downstream concentration. This could maximise resource utilisation and regional employment while decongesting infrastructure development.

Stock market response and investor sentiment for EQ Resources

EQ Resources Limited traded at AUD 0.036 per share at 1:30pm AEST on June 13, 2025, reflecting a 2.86% gain on the day. The stock’s 52-week range spans from AUD 0.025 to 0.075, with the current price placing it toward the lower end of that spectrum. The basic materials company maintains a market capitalisation of AUD 96.37 million, with approximately 2.68 billion ordinary shares outstanding.

Despite recent operational updates, EQ Resources Limited has posted a negative 12-month return of 18.18%, underperforming both the broader ASX index and the basic materials sector. It ranks 245th among 1,051 sector constituents and 951st out of 2,322 stocks overall.

Analyst interest may now begin to re-emerge as the tungsten firm demonstrates consistent application of successful cost-reduction technologies across its portfolio. Investors focused on critical minerals are likely to monitor upcoming assay certifications, expanded bulk sampling campaigns, and strategic partnerships that might emerge from this milestone.

Why tungsten recovery matters for Australia’s critical minerals policy

Tungsten has become increasingly significant in the context of national security, defence manufacturing, and industrial applications like drilling tools, electronics, and aviation. EQ Resources Limited is among the few active tungsten producers in Australia and aims to reduce the country’s reliance on Chinese imports, which currently dominate global tungsten supply chains.

With growing government support, particularly under the Critical Minerals Strategy and Abandoned Mine Lands Program, EQ Resources Limited is well-positioned to benefit from regulatory and funding tailwinds. The Wolfram Camp trial is a test case of how legacy sites can be reindustrialised for critical mineral production with minimal environmental disturbance.

As countries recalibrate their raw material dependencies, sensor-based technologies like XRT sorting are poised to play an outsized role in upgrading domestic supply security. For EQ Resources Limited, this represents both a strategic advantage and a compelling investment thesis.

What’s next for EQ Resources after Wolfram Camp?

Looking ahead, EQ Resources Limited plans to integrate the Wolfram Camp trial results into broader production planning. Additional bulk sample testing will be conducted using Mt Carbine’s operational XRT sorter to confirm in-situ sortability. Further assay certification, geological interpretation, and gravity separation validations are expected to follow in subsequent phases.

Institutional analysts covering the critical minerals segment have flagged the possibility of off-take agreements or joint ventures once production certainty is established. Should EQ Resources successfully scale the Wolfram Camp initiative, it may become the model for redeveloping other abandoned mines across Queensland using low-footprint sensor-based recovery.

If the company maintains momentum, 2025–2026 could see a reshaping of its capital structure and resource base, with potential M&A opportunities or strategic fund inflows emerging as the regional hub takes shape.