The Strategic Importance of Tungsten

In this episode, Oliver Friesen—CEO of Guardian Metal Resources—joins for a deep dive into tungsten’s resurgence and why this little-known metal is at the center of U.S. national security, supply chains, and industrial resilience.

We unpack tungsten’s unique properties—highest melting point of any metal, extreme density, and hardness—and why it’s indispensable in defense applications from armor‑piercing munitions to high‑temperature aerospace systems. Oliver discusses Guardian’s Nevada‑focused strategy, including its flagship Pilot Mountain project, believed to be the largest undeveloped tungsten deposit on American soil, and how the company is positioning to help re‑shore U.S. supply chains.

We also explore the shifting policy landscape—China’s dominance over global tungsten supply, looming U.S. procurement bans on adversarial sources by 2027, and new federal initiatives—highlighted by a recent $6.2M U.S. Department of Defense award aimed at sustaining critical domestic tungsten production. Oliver shares how Guardian is building strategic relationships and accelerating project development to meet defense and industrial demand, while balancing responsible development and investor alignment