Critical minerals explorer and developer QEM Limited has completed a detailed compilation of historical data for the Big It project in northern Idaho, confirming its history as a past-producing underground tungsten mine and outlining plans for systematic exploration.

The review follows QEM completing the acquisition of Freshwater Metals Pty Ltd on August 19, 2026. The company’s broader portfolio also includes the Columbite Project in Idaho and the Julia Creek Vanadium and Energy Project in Queensland, Australia.

Located in Idaho’s historic Pine Creek mining district, Big It is distinguished by its history of supplying high-grade tungsten concentrates grading 67% to 75% WO₃ to United States wartime programs. Historical government records document approximately 380 metres of lateral development, alongside raises, winzes, and stoping.

A 1952–1953 exploration program by the U.S. Defence Minerals Exploration Administration identified additional tungsten oreshoots, reporting average grades of 4.45% WO₃ over an average vein width of 6.8 inches and 7.45% WO₃ over 4.3 inches. Underground rock and grab sampling in 2016 returned individual maximum values of up to 2,980 parts per million tungsten, 19.5% antimony, and 11.15 grams per tonne gold.

The company noted that these historical results pre-date modern reporting standards and cannot be treated as equivalent to contemporary exploration results.

To test the system, QEM proposes an exploration program designed to evaluate the continuity of the historical vein system along strike and at depth, while also testing for parallel or related mineralised veins across the property.

“The compilation of the data for Big It demonstrates the clear exploration potential for the project, and provides a platform from which QEM can plan and undertake exploration activities. The combination of historically verified tungsten production at Big It, together with previous significant sampling results for antimony and gold, highlights this potential. The underexplored nature of the project provides an excellent opportunity for the application of a systematic, staged application of modern exploration techniques that will hopefully lead to QEM identifying further mineralisation, and ultimately becoming a domestic producer of tungsten and other critical minerals in the United States to feed a growing market for these critical minerals.”

— Robert Cooper, Managing Director

Systematic exploration activities will focus on advancing the property to evaluate its full potential under current market conditions.

Read the full announcement: Significant Expansion Opportunities Big It Tungsten Project