Locksley’s Metallurgy Success Paves Way for Domestic Antimony Supply Chain
Locksley Resources Limited (ASX: LKY) has achieved excellent metallurgical test results at its Mojave Project, demonstrating a clear pathway to establishing America’s first domestic antimony supply chain in decades. With recovery rates reaching 85.9% and concentrate grades up to 59.6% antimony, these results validate the project’s potential to deliver high-quality feedstock for critical mineral production.
Breakthrough Metallurgical Results Validate Project Potential
The initial metallurgical testing program, conducted on a 23.1kg composite sample from the Desert Antimony Mine (DAM) Prospect, has yielded remarkable results. The sample, despite being collected from surface and having undergone some oxidation, delivered antimony recoveries ranging between 82.9% and 85.9% across six flotation tests.
Key highlights from the testing include:
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- High-grade initial rougher concentrate of 59.6% antimony (R04-stage 1)
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- Final rougher peak concentrate grade of 39.1% antimony (R02-stage 1-5)
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- Five tests exceeding 35.1% antimony concentrate grade
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- Consistent recovery rates above 82.9% across all test variations
| Test | Flotation Stages | Grind Size | Weight % | Grade (Sb%) | Recovery % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R01 | 1-5 | 106 μm P80 | 23.8 | 35.6 | 84.2 |
| R02 | 1-5 | 106 μm P80 | 21.1 | 39.1 | 82.9 |
| R03 | 1-5 | 75 μm P80 | 23.6 | 36.2 | 85.0 |
| R04 | 1-5 | 75 μm P80 | 23.8 | 36.3 | 84.9 |
| R05 | 1-7 | 75 μm P80 | 27.1 | 35.1 | 85.9 |
| R06 | 1-7 | 75 μm P80 | 32.0 | 27.5 | 84.9 |
What makes these results particularly impressive is that the tests were conducted on surface samples that had undergone some level of oxidation. Fresh rock samples from planned drilling are expected to deliver even better results as they will likely have lower levels of antimony mineral oxidation.
Addressing America’s Strategic Mineral Gap
Antimony is classified as a critical mineral by the U.S. government due to its essential applications in defense, semiconductors, batteries, and flame retardants. Despite this strategic importance, the United States currently has no domestic antimony production and relies heavily on imports, primarily from China.
Locksley’s Mojave Project, located in California, represents one of the highest-grade known antimony occurrences in the U.S. The Desert Antimony Mine last operated in 1937, but with modern processing techniques and Locksley’s strategic approach, it now has the potential to become a cornerstone of American antimony supply security.
“This is an excellent milestone to have achieved for the Mojave Project, which demonstrates that conventional flotation technology is suitable to produce a stibnite concentrate from the Desert Antimony Mine Prospect. What is also remarkable is the success of the testwork on surface samples, which have been susceptible to oxidation. I am extremely encouraged by the results and optimistic that with further testwork we will be able to improve on this already high-quality first-pass outcome.” – Julian Woodcock, Technical Director of Locksley Resources
Understanding Antimony Processing: From Concentrate to Products
Antimony processing involves several key stages, beginning with the production of a high-grade concentrate through flotation, which Locksley has now demonstrated successfully. The primary antimony mineral, stibnite (Sb₂S₃), naturally liberates during grinding, allowing for effective separation from waste rock.
The concentrate can then be processed through either conventional pyrometallurgical methods or more advanced technologies like the DeepSolvâ„¢ methodology being developed with Rice University.
The end products from antimony processing include:
- Antimony metal ingots – Used in lead-acid batteries, ammunition, and various alloys
- Antimony oxide – Essential for flame retardants in textiles, plastics, and electronics
- Antimony trisulfide – Used in munitions, fireworks, and friction products
Locksley’s next steps include investigating options to use their concentrate in pilot tests to produce these various antimony products, advancing their strategy to establish a complete mine-to-market antimony supply chain in the United States.
Strategic Path Forward
Locksley is advancing its metallurgical program with several key initiatives:
- Further regrind and cleaning testwork to optimize recovery and concentrate grade
- Mineralogical testwork on samples to better understand ore characteristics
- Providing concentrate samples to Rice University for DeepSolvâ„¢ extraction testing
- Investigating pilot production of antimony metal ingots, oxide, and trisulfide
These results come at a critical time when securing domestic supply chains for strategic minerals has become a national security priority for the United States. As global tensions rise and supply chains face increasing scrutiny, Locksley’s Mojave Project represents a significant opportunity to establish domestic production of a critical mineral.
Why Investors Should Watch Locksley Resources
Locksley Resources offers investors exposure to a unique opportunity in the critical minerals sector:
- Strategic Positioning: The Mojave Project is aligned with U.S. government priorities for securing domestic critical mineral supply chains.
- Proven Metallurgy: With recovery rates of 82.9-85.9% and concentrate grades exceeding 35% antimony, the technical foundation is strong.
- Multiple Catalysts: Upcoming drilling, further metallurgical optimization, and potential pilot production provide numerous value-driving milestones.
- Diversified Asset Base: Beyond antimony, the Mojave Project also targets rare earth elements (REEs), providing exposure to multiple critical minerals within a single project.
- Geopolitical Tailwinds: Rising tensions with China, which dominates global antimony production, create strong policy support for domestic alternatives.
As Locksley continues to advance the Mojave Project toward production, it is positioning itself as a key player in America’s critical mineral security strategy, offering investors both growth potential and alignment with national strategic priorities.
Are You Ready to Invest in America’s Antimony Future?
Discover how Locksley Resources is developing the high-grade Mojave Project with exceptional metallurgical results pointing to a domestic antimony supply chain. With impressive recovery rates of 85.9% and concentrate grades up to 59.6%, LKY offers a compelling investment opportunity in a critical mineral essential for defence, semiconductors and batteries. Visit Locksley Resources’ website to learn more about their strategic position in addressing America’s critical mineral security and their pathway to production.
