Perpetua Resources Secures Up to $40 Million in US Army Funding to Advance Tungsten Production
Boise, Idaho | October 28, 2026 — Perpetua Resources has been awarded up to $40 million in funding from the US Army to assess the technical and economic feasibility of producing tungsten concentrate at its historic Stibnite Mining District project in Idaho.
Announced on October 26, the 36-month cost-sharing agreement aims to support exploration, metallurgical testing and engineering work to help establish a domestic source of tungsten, a critical mineral used in defence applications and advanced manufacturing. Perpetua Resources will match the Army’s contribution, bringing the potential combined investment to $80 million.
US Army Funding to Support Tungsten Exploration
The funding has been awarded through the US Army’s Defense Ordnance Technology Consortium (DOTC), under the Portfolio Acquisition Executive for Agile Sustainment and Ammunition.
The programme will focus on determining whether tungsten mineralisation at Stibnite can be developed into a commercially viable source of supply. Planned activities include surface drilling to define a potential tungsten mineral resource, laboratory and bench-scale metallurgical testing, and engineering and permitting work for an exploration decline beneath the Hangar Flats pit.
The initial 18-month phase is expected to cost approximately $18 million, with the US Army and Perpetua Resources each contributing $9 million. Subsequent phases will depend on exploration results, technical assessments, permitting progress and additional funding approvals.
Stibnite Project Holds Potential for High-Grade Tungsten
The Stibnite Mining District has a history of producing tungsten and antimony, two minerals considered strategically important for the US economy and national security.
Recent exploration drilling at the Hangar Flats deposit has identified promising zones containing both minerals. Reported results include a 9.8-metre interval grading 4.6% tungsten and 8.3% antimony, highlighting the area’s potential for further resource development.
The company also plans metallurgical testing using an existing 550-kilogram sample grading 4.2% tungsten and 9.2% antimony. The testing will help determine how effectively the minerals can be recovered and processed into a marketable concentrate. However, further exploration and technical assessments are required before commercial production can be established.
US Seeks to Reduce Dependence on Imported Tungsten
The funding comes as the United States seeks to strengthen its domestic supply of critical minerals and reduce dependence on foreign suppliers.
Tungsten is widely used in defence equipment, specialised alloys, industrial cutting tools and other high-performance applications because of its exceptional hardness and high melting point.
According to Perpetua Resources, the United States has had no commercial tungsten mining since 2015 and relies on imports to meet its requirements. Supply-chain vulnerabilities and Chinese export controls have increased concerns about the availability of this strategically important metal.
Developing a domestic tungsten source could therefore help support US defence manufacturing and improve the resilience of its industrial supply chains.
Government Support for Critical Minerals Reaches $126 Million
The latest award brings the total US government funding awarded to Perpetua Resources for critical-mineral initiatives to $126 million since 2022.
The company is developing the Stibnite Gold Project, which is also intended to supply domestically produced antimony, a mineral used in defence, energy and manufacturing applications.
The addition of tungsten exploration could expand the project’s strategic significance by creating the potential to recover multiple critical minerals from the same mining district.
However, the tungsten programme remains at the exploration and feasibility-assessment stage. Any development outside the existing permitted mine plan would require additional regulatory review and approvals.
Outlook: A Potential Boost for US Critical-Mineral Security
The US Army’s funding commitment represents an important step towards evaluating a potential domestic tungsten supply source. By combining government support with private investment, Perpetua Resources aims to establish whether the Stibnite district can support economically viable tungsten production.
The immediate focus will be on drilling, metallurgical testing and engineering studies. The results will determine the project’s technical feasibility and help establish the next stages of development.
If successful, the initiative could strengthen America’s domestic critical-mineral supply chain, support defence manufacturing and reduce reliance on imported tungsten. Nevertheless, commercial production is not guaranteed and will depend on exploration results, economic viability, funding and regulatory approvals.