Locksley Resources Antimony Mine Delivers 26.1% Grade Results

BY WILLIAM HADRIAN ON FEBRUARY 3, 2026

Locksley Resources Ltd

  • ASX Code: LKY
  • Market Cap: $64,397,164
  • Shares On Issue (SOI): 367,983,795
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Locksley Resources Limited (ASX: LKY) has announced extraordinary antimony results from its batch sampling program at the Desert Antimony Mine (DAM), with assay values reaching 26.1% antimony – results that position the company at the forefront of America’s critical minerals revival. The Locksley Resources Ltd antimony mine has delivered exceptional performance through its batch sampling program, which collected 287 kg of high-grade material. Furthermore, this program delivered a total weighted average of 18.7% Sb across all samples, with the premium Batch 1 material averaging an exceptional 25.7% Sb.

These results represent a significant improvement over previous sampling campaigns, which returned 7.6%–7.8% Sb, demonstrating the consistency and quality of the high-grade mineralisation at DAM. The material collected will now feed directly into metallurgical testwork and pilot plant design for domestic production of antimony trioxide and trisulfide – both critical compounds for U.S. defense applications.

Strategic Breakthrough for U.S. Critical Minerals Supply

The timing of these results couldn’t be more significant. With the United States currently producing zero domestic antimony despite rising geopolitical tensions and supply chain vulnerabilities, Locksley’s DAM deposit represents one of the highest-grade known antimony occurrences in the country. The Desert Antimony Mine last operated in 1937, however, these new results confirm the deposit’s potential to re-establish domestic antimony production.

Key Results by Batch:

Batch Material Type Mass (kg) Weighted Average Sb (%) Peak Grade (%)
Batch 1 Stibnite-rich premium 55.56 25.7% 26.1%
Batch 2 High-grade material 131.88 21.3% 22.9%
Batch 3 Low-grade material 99.22 11.4% 12.8%
Total All material 286.66 18.7% 26.1%

Managing Director Commentary

“For Locksley to consistently return double-digit percentages at over 25% underscores the potential of the Desert Antimony Mine. We aren’t just looking at byproduct antimony, we are looking at a rich, primary source of a metal that the U.S. Department of Defence and the energy sector desperately need.”

Kerrie Matthews, Managing Director

Understanding Antimony: The Critical Metal America Needs

What is Antimony?

Antimony is a metalloid element essential for defence applications, semiconductors, and flame retardants. Unlike many other critical minerals, antimony cannot be easily substituted in most applications, making secure supply chains vital for national security.

The element appears naturally as stibnite (antimony sulphide), the primary ore mineral found at the DAM deposit. In addition, antimony compounds are processed into various forms, with antimony trioxide and trisulfide being the most commercially valuable for defence and industrial applications.

Why It Matters to Investors:

    • Defence Critical: Essential for military applications including ammunition, radar systems, and night vision equipment

 

    • Supply Monopoly: China controls approximately 60% of global production

 

    • No U.S. Production: America currently relies entirely on imports for antimony supply

 

    • High-Value Applications: Premium antimony compounds command significant pricing premiums

 

The DAM deposit’s advantage lies in its primary high-grade mineralisation rather than antimony as a byproduct of other mining operations, potentially delivering superior economics and processing efficiency.

Operational Advantages of High-Grade Mineralisation

The double-digit antimony grades at DAM present significant operational benefits that translate directly to improved project economics:

Processing Efficiency Benefits:

    • Reduced mass-pull requirements due to high-grade feed material

 

    • Lower energy consumption for grinding operations

 

    • Faster flotation kinetics enabling higher throughput

 

    • Smaller equipment footprint reducing capital expenditure

 

    • Enhanced recovery rates from premium stibnite-rich material

 

The Company’s previous metallurgical work produced a 68.1% Sb premium concentrate from a 325kg sample, demonstrating the deposit’s ability to generate high-quality products suitable for strategic applications.

High-grade primary deposits like DAM typically require simpler processing flowsheets compared to polymetallic operations where antimony appears as a byproduct. Consequently, this translates to reduced reagent costs, lower complexity operations, and potentially faster paths to production.

Immediate Next Steps and 2026 Catalysts

Locksley has outlined a clear pathway to advance the DAM deposit toward production:

Immediate Priorities (Q1 2026):

    1. Metallurgical Optimisation: The 287kg of batch samples will undergo advanced flotation and crushing testwork to finalise the process flowsheet

 

    1. Pilot Plant Design: Engineering design for the Phase 1 pilot processing facility using batch sampling data

 

    1. Drill Program Preparation: With pad preparation completed and drill rig arrival imminent at Mojave

 

Medium-Term Milestones:

    • Pilot Processing Facility: Targeted for construction in 2026

 

    • Permitting Advancement: Ongoing engagement with U.S. engineering consultants for larger-scale extraction

 

    • Defence Supply Chain Integration: Development of antimony trioxide and trisulfide production capabilities

 

The Company’s mine-to-market strategy positions it to capitalise on both the exceptional grades at DAM and the urgent need for domestic antimony supply chains.

Investment Thesis: Riding the Critical Minerals Wave

Locksley Resources offers investors exposure to multiple converging trends:

Strategic Positioning:

    • Location Advantage: Mojave Project sits adjacent to MP Materials’ Mountain Pass Mine, the only operating REE facility in North America

 

    • Dual Critical Minerals: Both antimony and rare earth elements in the same project area

 

    • Proven Geology: High-grade results from both historical and recent sampling programs

 

Market Dynamics:

    • Supply Security Concerns: Rising geopolitical tensions driving demand for domestic critical minerals sources

 

    • Defence Spending: Increased U.S. military budgets requiring secure antimony supply

 

    • Technology Integration: Strategic partnerships with U.S. research institutions and industry partners

 

Financial Considerations:

The combination of exceptional grades (up to 26.1% Sb), strategic location, and established processing pathways positions Locksley to potentially achieve rapid cash flow generation once pilot operations commence.

The company’s approach differs from typical exploration plays by focusing on near-term production capability rather than resource definition alone. For instance, this strategy could accelerate the pathway from discovery to cash flow, particularly given the strategic importance of antimony to U.S. national security.

Technical Sampling Program Details

The recent batch sampling program targeted specific mineralised vein material within the historical workings at DAM. Each sample represents approximately 20-30kg of material collected using handheld rock breakers, with visual inspection ensuring the presence of stibnite mineralisation.

The program design focused on three distinct material types:

    • Premium stibnite-rich veins (Batch 1)

 

    • High-grade general material (Batch 2)

 

    • Lower-grade representative material (Batch 3)

 

This approach provides a comprehensive understanding of grade variability across the deposit, essential for optimising the processing flowsheet and determining economic cut-off grades for future mining operations.

Why Investors Should Follow Locksley Resources

Locksley Resources has positioned itself as a potential cornerstone of America’s critical minerals independence strategy. The exceptional antimony results from DAM, combined with the company’s rare earth element prospects at the same Mojave Project, create a unique value proposition in the critical minerals space.

Key Investment Differentiators:

Factor Locksley Advantage
Grade Quality Up to 26.1% Sb vs. typical byproduct grades of <5%
Strategic Location Adjacent to only operating U.S. REE mine
Processing Pathway Demonstrated ability to produce 68.1% Sb concentrates
Market Timing Zero U.S. antimony production meets rising defence demand
Dual Minerals Both antimony and REE potential in single project

With the drill rig arrival imminent and pilot plant design advancing, 2026 represents a potentially transformative year for the company. The exceptional batch sampling results provide the technical foundation for Locksley to advance from explorer to potential producer in one of America’s most strategically important mineral sectors.

The company’s focus on high-grade primary antimony mineralisation, rather than byproduct recovery, positions it to potentially capture premium pricing and achieve superior project economics. Furthermore, combined with the strategic imperative for domestic antimony production, Locksley Resources presents a compelling opportunity for investors seeking exposure to critical minerals and U.S. supply chain security themes.

Key Takeaway:

Locksley Resources has demonstrated exceptional high-grade antimony mineralisation at precisely the moment America needs domestic critical minerals production. With grades up to 26.1% Sb and clear pathways to production, the company represents a compelling opportunity to participate in the rebuilding of U.S. strategic mineral independence.

Could This Be Your Opportunity to Invest in America’s Critical Minerals Future?

With antimony grades reaching 26.1% and zero current U.S. domestic production, Locksley Resources sits at the centre of a strategic minerals supply crisis. The exceptional results from the Desert Antimony Mine, combined with the company’s advancing pilot plant plans and imminent drill programme, position LKY as a potential cornerstone of American mineral independence. To discover how Locksley’s high-grade antimony discovery could transform from exceptional exploration results into a strategic domestic production facility, and to access detailed technical reports, financial information, and upcoming milestone timelines, visit Locksley Resources today.

 

Stock Codes: ASX: LKY

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