Trigg Minerals has secured a strategic acquisition of three high-potential antimony-gold projects in New South Wales, strengthening its position as an emerging player in critical minerals and precious metals. The move comes as resource nationalism and global tensions continue to impact critical minerals markets worldwide.
Major Acquisition Adds Historic Goldfields with Exceptional Grades
Trigg Minerals (ASX: TMG) has signed a binding agreement to acquire 100% rights to the Nundle, Upper Hunter, and Cobark/Copeland projects in New South Wales, covering a substantial 1,039.7 km² area rich in antimony and gold deposits. This acquisition significantly expands Trigg's footprint in Australia's antimony sector, complementing its flagship Wild Cattle Creek deposit.
The newly acquired package features exceptional high-grade mineral potential, including:
- Five historical antimony deposits with rock chip samples grading up to 61% Sb
- More than 60 historical gold mines and occurrences with rock chip samples reaching 1,045 g/t Au
- Historical gold production estimated at 174,000 oz using primitive mining techniques
- A 40 km strike length along the prospective Peel Fault system
"The acquisition of the Nundle and other projects marks an exciting expansion for Trigg Minerals into historically productive goldfields with strong critical mineral potential," said Tim Morrison, Executive Chairman of Trigg Minerals. "The presence of both gold and antimony in this underexplored region aligns perfectly with our focus on high-value, strategically significant minerals."
Strategic Dual-Focus Development Plan
The acquisition positions Trigg with two flagship exploration assets that will be developed simultaneously:
- Wild Cattle Creek – The company's advanced high-grade antimony deposit
- Nundle Project Package – The newly acquired antimony-gold tenements
This dual-focus approach allows Trigg to advance both established resources and high-potential exploration targets, creating multiple pathways for growth in the antimony and gold markets. This strategy is particularly important for junior mining companies navigating challenges in today's complex resource sector.
Understanding Antimony: A Critical Metal for the Modern Economy
Antimony is classified as a critical mineral by many governments worldwide due to its crucial applications and supply risks. This silvery-white metal is primarily used in:
- Flame retardants (42% of global use) for plastics, textiles, and electronics
- Lead-acid batteries (28%) to improve charging efficiency and durability
- Military applications including ammunition, armor-piercing projectiles, and night-vision equipment
- Emerging technologies like microelectronics and solid-state batteries
China currently dominates global antimony production (approximately 60%), creating supply vulnerabilities for Western economies. Trump's tariffs transforming global metal flow dynamics have highlighted the importance of developing domestic sources of critical minerals. Trigg's Australian antimony projects represent a potential secure supply alternative for this strategically important metal.
Geological Setting Shows Multi-Commodity Potential
The newly acquired projects are located within the New England Orogen (NEO) in northern New South Wales, with mineralogy characterised by:
- Gold-antimony veins preferentially occurring in metasediments, volcanics, and serpentinite
- Deposits typically forming within faults, shears, or joints as quartz vein fillings
- Association with sulfides including stibnite (antimony sulfide), pyrite, and arsenopyrite
- Additional potential for tungsten (scheelite) in certain areas
The regional east-west zoning pattern observed across the tenements, featuring defined scheelite, gold, and stibnite belts, provides Trigg with multiple target types across the expansive land package.
Transaction Terms Structured for Long-Term Value
Trigg will acquire the projects from Stanford Rocks Pty Ltd for:
- AUD $250,000 in cash
- AUD $250,000 in TMG shares (subject to a three-month voluntary escrow)
- A 2% net smelter return (NSR) royalty on minerals extracted
The transaction is expected to close by July 2025, subject to due diligence, shareholder approval, and regulatory clearances.
Exploration Upside and Future Catalysts
What makes this acquisition particularly compelling is the historical high-grade nature of the deposits combined with the lack of modern exploration techniques. Key factors driving exploration upside include:
- Historical mining limitations: Previous operations were constrained by primitive mining methods and significantly lower gold prices
- Open mineralisation: Initial reviews suggest mineralisation remains open along strike and at depth
- Modern exploration opportunity: Application of contemporary exploration techniques could identify substantial additional resources
- Critical mineral focus: The antimony component adds strategic value beyond the gold potential
Trigg plans to implement a systematic exploration program leveraging historical data and modern methodologies to assess the potential for high-grade gold and antimony across the tenement package. This approach could be significantly enhanced by Australia's $2.5 million critical minerals grant programs aimed at boosting innovation in the sector.
Why Investors Should Watch Trigg Minerals
Trigg Minerals represents an attractive investment opportunity in the critical minerals and precious metals space for several compelling reasons:
- Dual commodity exposure to both antimony (critical mineral) and gold (safe-haven asset)
- Tier-1 jurisdiction in Australia, providing security of tenure and operational stability
- Exceptional grades demonstrated in historical workings and sample results
- Strategic positioning in the antimony market as Western economies seek supply chain security
- Experienced management with a clear vision to become a primary antimony producer
With upcoming exploration activities across both its flagship Wild Cattle Creek deposit and the newly acquired project portfolio, Trigg is positioned to deliver a steady stream of news flow and potential value catalysts in the coming quarters.
As global focus on critical mineral security intensifies and precious metals remain attractive in an uncertain economic environment, Trigg's expanded portfolio offers investors exposure to both sectors through a single, focused company. Investors should also consider how iron ore price volatility and broader market trends might affect the overall mining sector when evaluating opportunities in companies like Trigg Minerals.
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