Australian tungsten mine reopens as global demand spikes amid multiple wars

The Dolphin Mine on King Island, Australia, is undergoing a revival that will see underground tungsten ore extracted for the first time since the early 1990s. Historically opened during World War I and revived during subsequent conflicts, the mine now aligns with a surge in demand for the metal that powers armor-piercing rounds and protective plating. Development began in early 2022, shortly before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and production is expected to ramp up by September.

The restart is part of a wider push by the United States, which recently signed a $1.6 billion deal for a large Kazakh tungsten deposit, to secure critical minerals away from China. Beijing's expanding military ambitions, including potential action against Taiwan, have heightened concerns about supply chains. The Pentagon has warned that U.S. air-defense missiles are running low after months of conflict with Iran, further fueling interest in domestic and allied sources of tungsten.