A newly identified tungsten deposit in Nevada could become the largest in the United States, but a long-standing NASA land withdrawal is blocking exploration across a significant portion of the project, even as concerns mount over America's dependence on Chinese tungsten supply, according to a report by the Financial Times published on August 4, 2026. Critical minerals developer 3 Proton Lithium (3PL) says its Railroad Valley Minerals Project hosts an inferred tungsten resource of 1.78 million tonnes, which would be more than five times larger than the next biggest known US deposit if it proves commercially viable. The company estimates the in-situ value at approximately $152 billion based on current prices, though the area blocked by NASA has not yet been incorporated into the resource estimate.
"This is not a mining story. It is a national security story," said Kevin Moore, chair and chief financial officer of 3PL, speaking to the Financial Times. Moore argued that the United States abandoned domestic tungsten mining roughly a decade ago and now relies on imports at a time when China dominates global supply, controlling approximately 80% of worldwide tungsten production.
NASA opposes mining on about one-third of the company's claims. The agency uses the flat Nevada desert terrain to calibrate satellite instruments and contends that mining operations would interfere with a unique site used to receive and verify satellite signals. The Bureau of Land Management withdrew roughly 17 square miles from mining and exploration in 2023 at NASA's request.
The agency has indicated its position remains unchanged. The discovery is unfolding against a backdrop of dramatic price appreciation in the tungsten market. According to Mining.com, tungsten prices have surged nearly 600% since early 2025, driven by rising demand from the aerospace, defence, and industrial sectors, compounded by tighter supply following Chinese export controls.
China's dominant position in global tungsten production has amplified the strategic importance of any potential domestic US source. The Trump administration has identified critical minerals as a strategic priority and placed the Railroad Valley project into the FAST-41 federal permitting programme to help accelerate project approvals. Washington is also reportedly considering up to $1.6 billion in support for a proposed tungsten mine in Kazakhstan as part of broader efforts to diversify supply away from Chinese sources.
Moore confirmed that 3PL is actively lobbying the Trump administration and Congress to reverse the federal land withdrawal, contending that the restriction was imposed without complete geological information being available at the time. Despite the project's strategic significance, market analysts have urged caution. Strong tungsten prices are attracting junior miners worldwide, but experts estimate that production remains at least five years away even if permitting and land access issues are fully resolved.
Sources: Mining.com, Financial Times (August 4, 2026).
Source: mining.com