Rackla Metals Inc. has commenced drilling at its Lentung tungsten project in the Northwest Territories, marking the first drilling on the property since 1982.

The 2026 exploration program comprises approximately 10,000 metres of drilling, split between 4,000 metres of diamond drilling and 6,000 metres of reverse circulation drilling. The diamond drill crew arrived at the site on August 14 and collared the first hole.

The initial diamond drilling focuses on confirming historical results from Union Carbide and establishing the geological and assay database required to support a modern mineral resource estimate. The work tests the grade, continuity and geometry of known tungsten mineralization, while also targeting extensions along the 15-kilometre-long tungsten belt. A reverse circulation drill is scheduled to mobilize to the property on August 18 to infill and expand mineralization within the Central Zone.

“Getting the drills turning at Lentung is an important milestone for Rackla. This is the first drilling on the property in more than four decades and gives us the opportunity to test a substantial body of excellent historic work with modern drilling, assaying and geological techniques.”

— Simon Ridgway, CEO of Rackla

Rackla acquired the property through claim staking in late 2025, taking 100% ownership of the historical project. In May 2026, the company obtained a five-year Type A Land Use Permit from the Sahtu Land and Water Board to support the work.

Historical exploration by Union Carbide between 1977 and 1982 completed approximately 26,900 metres of diamond drilling across 178 holes. Rackla’s current campaign aims to validate that past work using modern exploration standards.

“Our first objective is to confirm the historic mineralization and create the technical foundation required to re-establish the resource through a current mineral resource estimate. From there, the program transitions into expansion and exploration drilling. Union Carbide identified significant tungsten mineralization at Lentung, but much of the property remains lightly explored by modern standards.”

— Simon Ridgway, CEO of Rackla

Supporting exploration programs completed over the summer include ground-based gravity and drone-based magnetic surveys across the Central Zone, Far West Zone and CAC Valley, alongside the recovery and cataloguing of historical drill core. The company is targeting the completion of a modern NI 43-101 technical report and mineral resource estimate in the first quarter of 2027.

Read the full announcement: Rackla Begins First Drilling At Lentung In 44 Years - 10,000 Metre Drill Program Underway