Sun Silver Strikes Significant Antimony Zones at Maverick Springs
Sun Silver's ongoing drill program at its flagship Maverick Springs Project in Nevada has revealed substantial antimony mineralization, with recent results showing 65 meters of antimony zones with grades up to 7.8% Sb in historic diamond drillhole MR127. The Sun Silver antimony discovery represents a significant development in the company's exploration strategy.
Major Antimony Discovery Strengthens Growth Potential
The latest results from Sun Silver's (ASX: SS1) multi-element re-assay program have delivered compelling evidence of widespread antimony mineralization at the Maverick Springs Silver-Gold Project. Diamond drillhole MR127 has returned two significant antimony intercepts:
- 44 meters at 0.1% Sb from 181m depth
- 21 meters at 0.11% Sb from 236m depth
These results further strengthen the potential for a maiden antimony mineral resource estimate at the project, which would complement the existing large-scale silver-gold system. Similar to how Warriedar Resources recently uncovered high-grade antimony at its Ricciardo gold deposit, Sun Silver's findings highlight the growing importance of this critical mineral.
"MR127 has returned 65 metres of antimony mineralisation with grades exceeding 0.1% Sb," said Sun Silver Managing Director Andrew Dornan. "These continued strong antimony intercepts further strengthen the growth potential of the Maverick Springs Mineral Resource."
Strategic Nevada Position in World-Class Mining District
The Maverick Springs Project is ideally located in Nevada, rated as the #1 mining jurisdiction globally by the Fraser Institute in 2022. Situated just 85km from the fully-serviced mining town of Elko, the project is surrounded by world-class operations including Barrick's Carlin Mine.
The project already hosts a substantial JORC Inferred Mineral Resource of 218 million tonnes grading 42.2g/t Ag and 0.31g/t Au for 296.5Moz of contained silver and 2.2Moz of contained gold (480Moz of contained silver equivalent). This deposit remains open along strike and at depth, with multiple mineralized intercepts located outside the current resource model.
Antimony: A Critical Mineral with Growing Importance
Antimony is classified as a critical mineral by many countries due to its essential role in various industrial applications. The Sun Silver antimony discovery at Maverick Springs comes at a time of increasing strategic importance for this element, as companies worldwide scramble to secure supplies of critical minerals.
Key Applications of Antimony
Antimony serves several crucial functions across multiple industries:
- Flame Retardants: The largest commercial use, adding fire resistance to textiles, plastics, and other materials
- Lead-Acid Batteries: Improves charging characteristics and extends battery life
- Defense Applications: Used in ammunition, infrared detectors, and night-vision devices
- Semiconductors: Component in certain electronic devices and emerging technologies
- Energy Storage: Potential applications in next-generation battery technologies
Supply Concerns
The global antimony market faces significant supply challenges, with production heavily concentrated in China. This concentration creates potential supply vulnerabilities for Western nations, increasing the strategic value of new antimony discoveries in stable jurisdictions like Nevada.
Furthermore, the growing interest in critical minerals is evident across the sector, with companies like Vital Metals advancing massive rare earth projects to address similar supply chain concerns. The Sun Silver antimony discovery represents a potentially significant new source in a geopolitically secure region, addressing growing concerns about critical mineral security.
Expanding Resource Potential Through Systematic Exploration
Sun Silver's multi-element re-assay program continues to reveal mineralized zones with broad intervals exceeding 100ppm Sb closely associated with the established silver-gold mineralization at the Project. Within these broader zones, higher-grade domains commonly exceed 500ppm and frequently reach 1,000ppm (0.1% Sb).
The distribution of these high-grade zones, along with shallower intervals above the main mineralized body, is being closely investigated to better understand the controls on antimony mineralization and identify further opportunities at Maverick Springs.
Currently, over 35 historical holes have been submitted for multi-element assay, with further results expected throughout Q3 2025. This systematic approach is rapidly advancing Sun Silver's understanding of antimony mineralization and expanding the potential scale of critical mineral distribution across the Project.
The recent Sun Silver antimony discovery is part of a broader trend of identifying critical mineral potential within previously defined precious metal systems. This approach maximizes value from existing resources while addressing growing market demand for strategic minerals.
Investment Thesis: Multiple Commodity Exposure in Tier-1 Jurisdiction
Sun Silver presents a compelling investment opportunity through its multi-commodity exposure in one of the world's premier mining jurisdictions. The company offers:
- Established Silver-Gold Resource: A substantial 480Moz silver equivalent resource provides a solid foundation
- Critical Mineral Upside: Emerging antimony potential adds a strategic dimension to the project
- Proven Mining Location: Nevada's pro-mining regulations and infrastructure reduce development risk
- Exploration Momentum: Ongoing drilling and re-assay programs continue to expand resource potential
- Near-Term Catalysts: Expected antimony resource estimate and continued drill results
The current re-assay program, combined with planned validation drilling, is focused on defining antimony mineralization across the broader Ag-Au system. With mineralisation modelling set to commence imminently, investors should watch for the potential maiden antimony Mineral Resource estimate as a key near-term catalyst.
Why Investors Should Follow Sun Silver
Sun Silver represents a unique opportunity to gain exposure to both precious metals and critical minerals in a single investment. With antimony being recognized as a strategically important element with supply chain concerns, the company's emerging antimony resource could attract significant attention from markets and potentially government interest.
The combination of a substantial existing precious metals resource, promising antimony mineralization, and location in Nevada's world-class mining district positions Sun Silver for potential significant revaluation as it continues to expand and define its multi-commodity resource base.
As global demand for critical minerals continues to grow alongside traditional precious metals, the Sun Silver antimony discovery at Maverick Springs offers investors exposure to multiple commodity cycles through a single, well-positioned asset. This trend is evident across the sector, with companies such as Austin Metals making gold discoveries in Western Australia and Greenvale Energy advancing uranium projects.
In addition, the growing interest in uranium resources, as evidenced by American Rare Earths expanding their uranium resource at the Overland Project, highlights the broader market appetite for critical minerals that Sun Silver is well-positioned to capitalize on with its antimony discovery.
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