BN Strategic Metals Corporation has selected Samuels Engineering to conduct a pre-feasibility study for a proposed domestic ammonium paratungstate processing facility, moving from its initial July 2026 concept announcement toward engineering-level evaluation.

The pre-feasibility work will assess technical requirements, plant configurations, and economic considerations for adding downstream ammonium paratungstate production alongside planned mining and concentration operations at the Atolia Tungsten Project in California's historic Rand Mining District.

The study results are expected to feed into BN's broader Atolia feasibility program, helping evaluate the asset as an integrated mine-to-refinery operation rather than solely a tungsten concentrate producer. The Atolia project technical report outlines an estimated mineral resource containing approximately 40.4 million pounds of contained tungsten trioxide and approximately 97,000 ounces of contained gold.

“Selecting Samuels Engineering to undertake the APT pre-feasibility work is an important step toward determining the technical and economic requirements for domestic APT production alongside our Atolia mining and concentration operations.”

Binkele continued, "America's tungsten challenge does not end with having tungsten in the ground. The United States needs the capability to mine it, concentrate it and convert it into the downstream materials required by American defense, aerospace and advanced manufacturing. Our objective is to determine whether BN can bring those capabilities together into one integrated American supply chain." — Robert Binkele, Chief Executive Officer

The evaluation encompasses plant capacity, process design, metallurgical requirements, capital and operating costs, infrastructure, permitting, and the potential to process qualifying third-party feed from other U.S. and allied sources.

No final investment or construction decision has been made regarding the proposed processing facility, with all future development remaining subject to technical and economic studies, permitting, financing, regulatory approvals, and commercial arrangements. BN Strategic Metals continues to advance feasibility, engineering, and permitting activities for the Atolia project, targeting initial tungsten production during the second half of 2027.

Read the full announcement: BN Launches APT Pre-Feasibility Program for Atolia Tungsten Project; Selects Samuels Engineering