Proton Lithium (3PL) reported discovery of the largest known US tungsten deposit
at its Railroad Valley Minerals Project in eastern Nevada, estimating 1.78
million tonnes of resource. At current prices 3PL values the deposit at roughly
$152 billion; if commercially viable it would exceed the US second‑largest
tungsten deposit by more than fivefold. About one‑third of the mineral rights
overlap a NASA satellite‑tracking site; NASA has warned mining could threaten
that facility and the company’s published resource does not include the
NASA‑restricted area. 3PL noted the US ceased domestic tungsten production
roughly a decade ago and now relies on imports, framing the find as a
national‑security issue. Tungsten is critical for cutting tools, mining
equipment, aerospace components and semiconductor manufacture; tight global
supply has driven prices up ~600% since Feb 2025, supported by rising demand
from EVs, aerospace, defense, electronics and industrial manufacturing. Market
research estimates the global tungsten market at $5.4–7.3 billion in 2025,
rising to $9.0–11.6 billion by 2034–35 (CAGR 4.8–8.1%).