Collective Mining's Apollo System: A Strategic Tungsten Play in a Geopolitical Gold Rush

The global scramble for critical minerals has reached a fever pitch, and tungsten—a metal vital for defense, aerospace, and high-tech industries—is at the center of it. As U.S.-China trade tensions escalate and prices for tungsten hit a 12-year high of $14.75 per pound, investors are racing to secure exposure to companies positioned to capitalize on this resource crunch. Nowhere is this clearer than in Colombia, where Collective Mining (COLT) has made a game-changing discovery: the first documented hard-rock tungsten occurrence in the country, nestled within its flagship Apollo System at the Guayabales Project. This discovery couldn't come at a more pivotal moment, with the U.S. military's 2027 deadline to eliminate reliance on Chinese and Russian tungsten fast approaching. Here's why Collective Mining's Apollo System is primed to deliver outsized returns.

Tungsten's Geopolitical Pivot: Why This Metal is Now a Weapon

Tungsten's strategic importance is undeniable. With a melting point of 3,422°C, it's indispensable for armor-piercing munitions, aerospace alloys, and semiconductor manufacturing. China, producing 80% of global tungsten, has weaponized its dominance, imposing export curbs since 2023 to squeeze Western supply chains. The result? Prices for ammonium paratungstate (APT)—a key tungsten intermediate—have surged 18% in 2025 alone, reaching levels last seen in 2013.

The U.S. response has been swift: accelerating domestic mining approvals, stockpiling critical minerals, and seeking alternatives to Chinese imports. Enter Collective Mining's Apollo System, which hosts Colombia's first hard-rock tungsten deposit. This discovery isn't just a mining milestone—it's a geopolitical lifeline. With the U.S. military's 2027 deadline to sever ties with Chinese and Russian tungsten, Apollo's tungsten-rich mineralization, occurring alongside gold, silver, and copper, positions Collective as a critical supplier in a seller's market.

Drill Results: High-Grade Continuity and a Tungsten Breakthrough

The Apollo System's recent drill results underscore its potential to deliver both near-term cash flow and long-term scalability. Key highlights include:
- 124m @ 3.03g/t gold equivalent (AuEq) from surface, with tungsten mineralization starting at 0m depth.
- 91m @ 3.04g/t AuEq from 56.15m depth, demonstrating vertical continuity over 1,200m.
- A tungsten-rich zone in the Ramp Zone (1,150m deep), intersecting 75.8m @ 8.01g/t AuEq, including 21m @ 24.16g/t AuEq, with bismuth, tellurium, and tungsten sulfides.

These results are transformative. The tungsten mineralization—occurring as scheelite—is a first for Colombia and aligns perfectly with the U.S. military's need for secure tungsten supplies. Crucially, the tungsten-rich portions are surface-accessible, enabling a low-cost starter pit to generate early cash flow while deeper drilling targets higher-grade gold and copper zones.

Scalability: 70,000m Drill Program and Multi-Metal Potential

Collective Mining is executing a 70,000m drill program with nine active rigs (expanding to 11 by Q3 2025), aiming to:
1. Define a starter pit: Shallow drilling in the top 150m has found continuous high-grade mineralization, with assays like 1.65m @ 20.8g/t AuEq in the northern vein zone.
2. Expand the Ramp Zone: Testing this high-grade sub-zone's 180m strike length, 70m thickness, and vertical potential.
3. Unlock porphyry potential: The system's metal zonation—a tungsten-rich surface layer transitioning to gold and copper at depth—suggests a multi-phase mineralizing system.

Analysts estimate the Apollo system's current mineral inventory at 5–8 million ounces AuEq, with the potential to grow to 10 million ounces+ as drilling progresses. With metallurgical tests yielding 93.5% gold recovery, and proximity to a conceptual underground haulage tunnel, the project's economics are robust.

Why This is an Imminent Catalyst for COLT's Stock

Investors should note two critical tailwinds:
1. Funding Strength: Collective has $78 million in treasury cash, with no immediate need for dilution. A recent $46 million financing round funds the 70,000m drill program.
2. Geopolitical Tailwind: The U.S. Defense Production Act and Inflation Reduction Act provide tax incentives and grants for critical mineral projects—Apollo qualifies for both.

With tungsten prices at decade highs and the 2027 deadline looming, Collective is uniquely positioned to monetize its multi-metal resource. A maiden resource estimate is imminent, and the company's vision of a 300,000+ ounce/year mine—producing gold, silver, copper, and tungsten—could unlock a valuation exceeding C$1.2 billion.

Conclusion: A Rare Confluence of Timing, Geology, and Politics

Collective Mining's Apollo System is no ordinary mining project. It's a geopolitical play in a resource war, a high-grade gold mine, and a tungsten supplier to the U.S. military—all wrapped into one. With drill results confirming continuous high-grade mineralization, a funded 70,000m program, and tungsten's 12-year price high, this is a once-in-a-decade opportunity to invest in a project that could redefine critical mineral supply chains.

For investors, the question isn't whether to act—it's whether to act now. With COLT's stock trading at a 30% discount to its peers and the geopolitical tailwinds intensifying, this is a compelling entry point. Don't let the scramble for tungsten pass you by.

Action: Buy Collective Mining (COLT) shares before the maiden resource estimate and U.S. military engagement catalyze a valuation rerating.