Locksley will also make a bigger batch of concentrate to pilot the production of antimony metal ingots, oxide and trisulphide products. Some of this concentrate will go to Rice University to trial its proprietorial DeepSolv process, which is a modern solvent extraction method that offers an alternative to traditional smelting.
A key driver behind Locksley’s strategy is the urgent need for the United States to cut its reliance on Chinese antimony. The US currently has no domestic production of the metal, leaving it vulnerable to supply shocks.
That vulnerability was laid bare when China – responsible for 81 per cent of the world’s antimony supply – suddenly halted all exports 12 months ago, cutting off a critical source for countries like the US.
Antimony is classified as a critical mineral because of its essential role in strengthening alloys, hardening lead for ammunition and improving fire resistance in semiconductors and batteries.
With Washington now moving swiftly to plug the supply gap and reduce dependence on China, Locksley’s Mojave project is emerging as a strategically positioned asset that could help rebuild a secure, domestic antimony supply chain.
The Mojave project covers more than 490 claims in California’s desert and sits next to ground held by rare earths giant MP Materials. It includes the historic Desert antimony mine, which last operated in 1937.
Recent rock chip sampling by Locksley at site pulled out some high grade samples including one running at a whopping 46 per cent antimony and more than 1 kilogram per tonne silver, setting the scene for the renewed exploration focus on the prospect.
With grades pushing the limits of what’s technically achievable, recoveries on track to exceed 80 per cent, and a strategic location in the heart of America’s critical minerals push, Locksley Resources is positioning itself as a potential cornerstone in rebuilding the US antimony supply chain.
As geopolitical tailwinds strengthen and test work accelerates, the company’s Mojave project is shaping up as one to watch in the race to secure this vital metal.
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