Locksley Resources Secures Strategic Advisor for US Critical Minerals

Locksley Resources Secures U.S. Strategic Advisor to Capitalize on Critical Minerals Boom

Locksley Resources (ASX: LKY) has appointed Viriathus Capital as its U.S. strategic advisor, positioning the company to capitalize on America's urgent push for critical minerals independence. This strategic move comes at a pivotal moment, as the U.S. government demonstrates unprecedented financial commitment to securing domestic supply chains for rare earth elements and antimony—both found at Locksley's strategically located Mojave Project in California.

U.S. Government Backs Critical Minerals With Multibillion-Dollar Support

In a sector-defining development, MP Materials (NYSE: MP) recently secured a multibillion-dollar partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense, establishing a blueprint for government support that could benefit nearby operations like Locksley's Mojave Project.

The landmark MP Materials deal includes:

• Construction of a major U.S. magnet manufacturing facility
• A 10-year NdPr offtake agreement with price floor commitment
• The Department of Defense becoming MP's largest shareholder

This represents the most aggressive U.S. industrial policy move in critical minerals since the Global Financial Crisis, creating a quasi-sovereign-backed supply chain strategy.

"The recent DoD backed price floor and equity investment in MP Materials is a landmark moment, signalling not just support for rare earths, but what appears to be the emergence of a quasi-sovereign-backed supply chain strategy for critical minerals in the United States." – Nathan Lude, Locksley Chairman

Strategic Location Creates Unique Opportunity

Locksley's Mojave Project enjoys exceptional strategic positioning:

This proximity to MP Materials' operations—now backed by massive federal support—places Locksley in an advantageous position to potentially benefit from the growing government commitment to critical minerals development in the region.

Viriathus Capital: Opening Doors to U.S. Funding and Partnerships

The appointment of Viriathus Capital brings immediate benefits to Locksley's U.S. strategy:

• Institutional investor introductions and implementation of a targeted U.S. financial marketing program
• Strategic visibility within the U.S. critical minerals investment and policy ecosystem
• Support for federal funding pathways with the Department of Defense, Department of Energy, and Export-Import Bank
• Input on downstream strategy development, including collaboration opportunities with U.S. tech, academic, and clean energy groups
• Enhanced media reach leveraging U.S. media and OTC investor networks

Understanding Critical Minerals: Why They Matter to Investors

What Are Critical Minerals?

Critical minerals are raw materials deemed essential for economic and national security that face supply chain risks. The U.S. government has designated both rare earth elements and antimony—the primary targets at Locksley's Mojave Project—as critical minerals requiring urgent supply chain diversification away from Chinese dominance.

Rare earth elements (REEs) comprise 17 metallic elements crucial for technologies ranging from smartphones to electric vehicles to military defense systems. Despite their name, REEs are relatively abundant in the Earth's crust but rarely occur in concentrated, economically viable deposits. Their extraction and processing have historically been dominated by China, creating supply security concerns for Western nations.

Antimony is particularly strategic, with no current domestic U.S. production despite its essential applications in defense systems, semiconductors, flame retardants, and metal alloys. This supply-demand imbalance creates significant market opportunity for developers of domestic antimony resources.

The U.S. government has initiated numerous funding programs to support domestic critical minerals development, including:

• Department of Defense funding for rare earth processing and separation
• Department of Energy grants for critical materials research and development
• Export-Import Bank financing for critical minerals projects
• Defense Production Act funding for strategic materials

These programs provide potential funding pathways for companies like Locksley that are developing U.S.-based critical minerals projects.

Downstream Strategy Focuses on High-Value Partnerships

With Viriathus' guidance, Locksley resources secures strategic advisor to help refine its downstream strategy around three key themes:

1. Academic-Led Innovation & Tech Commercialization

   • Lab-to-market initiatives with U.S. national labs
   • Engagement with Critical Materials Institute (CMI) participants

2. Resilient U.S. Supply Chains & Clean Mining Innovation

   • Strategic alignment with E-waste technologies
   • ESG-forward refining solutions
   • Domestic sourcing solutions for critical minerals

3. Critical Materials for Energy, Hardware & National Security

   • Positioning antimony and rare earths for electrification applications
   • Advanced manufacturing applications
   • Defense resilience solutions

This structured approach to downstream partnerships could potentially accelerate Locksley's path to commercialization by leveraging federal support and creating value-added processing options beyond simple mineral extraction.

Upcoming Catalysts: Q3 2025 Drilling Program Approaching

Investors should note that Locksley is preparing for its maiden drilling program at the Mojave Project in Q3 2025. This program will test both the rare earth and antimony potential, providing crucial data points that could significantly impact the company's valuation.

The timing aligns with increasing U.S. government support for critical minerals projects, potentially creating a favorable backdrop for exploration results.

Key areas of focus for the drilling program include:

• The North Block that directly abuts MP Materials' claims
• The El Campo Prospect along strike of the Mountain Pass Mine
• The historic Desert Antimony Mine, which previously reported high-grade antimony and silver values

Why Investors Should Watch Locksley Resources

Locksley offers a compelling investment opportunity at the intersection of several powerful trends:

1. Strategic Location: The Mojave Project's proximity to MP Materials' federally-backed Mountain Pass operation creates potential for value recognition and partnership opportunities.

2. Dual Critical Mineral Focus: With both rare earth elements and antimony—two U.S. designated critical minerals—Locksley targets minerals facing supply chain challenges and strong demand.

3. Federal Funding Potential: The appointment of Viriathus positions Locksley to explore U.S. government funding pathways that could significantly de-risk project development.

4. Upcoming Catalysts: The planned Q3 2025 drilling program will provide crucial data points on resource potential.

5. Dual-Country Portfolio: Beyond the U.S. assets, Locksley maintains the advanced Tottenham Copper-Gold Project in New South Wales, Australia, providing additional exploration upside.

As the U.S. government demonstrates unprecedented commitment to securing critical mineral supply chains, companies like Locksley with strategic assets in America are uniquely positioned to benefit from policy tailwinds, potential funding support, and increasing investor attention in this sector.

The recent MP Materials deal highlights the U.S. government's willingness to take equity positions and provide price guarantees for critical minerals projects—creating a potential blueprint for how companies like Locksley might structure future partnerships with federal agencies.

With Viriathus Capital now guiding its U.S. strategy, Locksley has strengthened its ability to navigate the complex landscape of federal funding opportunities, institutional investor relationships, and strategic partnerships that could accelerate development of its Mojave Project at a time when critical minerals have never been more strategically important to U.S. economic and national security interests.

Want to Capitalise on America's Critical Minerals Push?

Discover how Locksley Resources is strategically positioned to benefit from unprecedented U.S. government support for critical minerals development. With their Mojave Project's prime location near federally-backed operations, dual focus on rare earth elements and antimony, and newly appointed U.S. strategic advisor, Locksley presents a compelling opportunity for investors seeking exposure to this high-growth sector. Learn more about their strategic advantages and upcoming catalysts by visiting locksleyresouces.com.au today.