Tungsten, a US$5.4B Metal in 2025, Found in Colombia

A gold, silver and copper exploration campaign in Colombia's coffee region stumbled upon tungsten in 2025. The discovery, made by Collective Mining at its Guayabales project, marked a significant find, as tungsten is a strategically important metal. Tungsten's market was worth approximately US$5.4 billion in 2025, and it's projected to rise to US$5.78 billion this year. The metal, concentrated mainly in China, is a critical raw material for the world's major economies.

The tungsten was found almost by chance. The discovery led to the identification of tungsten-enriched zones within the Guayabales project. In June 2026, a high-grade zone in an area called Apollo was reported, containing 1.68% WO₃, along with gold, silver and copper. This discovery shows that Caldas' subsurface may hold more than just the precious metals initially sought.

Tungsten's value stems from its physical properties, including extreme hardness, high density, and ability to withstand high temperatures without deformation. It's crucial for manufacturing tungsten carbide, used in cutting tools, drill bits, drilling equipment, and machinery in mining and construction. It's also used in alloys, high-temperature components, electrical contacts, and various industrial processes. Its importance extends to high-tech industries like aerospace, aviation, satellite, and defense applications.

While this discovery is significant, Colombia hasn't yet become a major global tungsten producer. The size, continuity, and economic viability of the mineralized zones need to be determined. However, the discovery opens a new opportunity for Colombia's mining sector, particularly as China's tungsten production dominates the global market and tungsten becomes an even more strategic resource.