Felix Gold Ltd. announced plans to initiate antimony production at its Treasure Creek project located north of Fairbanks, Alaska, by the end of 2025.
This development comes as the U.S. Department of Defense seeks secure domestic supplies of antimony following China’s recent ban on exports of this strategic metalloid.
“There is growing confidence in our pathway to near-term antimony production at Treasure Creek,” stated Felix Gold Executive Director Joe Webb.
The company’s optimism regarding the swift transition to antimony production is attributed to the scaled-down size of the mine, similar to the small placer gold mining operations prevalent throughout Alaska.
“We are targeting a small-mine permitting pathway and with strong alignment with U.S. critical minerals policy,” Webb mentioned.
Felix Gold is assessing the feasibility of becoming the first domestic antimony producer in over three decades, aiming for initial production by the end of 2025, conditional on study outcomes and permitting processes.
Despite the small operational footprint, the high-grade nature of the stibnite (the antimony mineral) that Felix plans to extract is expected to make a significant contribution to national demand for antimony.
The Treasure Creek site historically hosted two antimony mines that served as strategic suppliers during both World Wars.
The larger of the two, Scrafford, produced an estimated 1,000 metric tons (equivalent to 2.4 million pounds) of antimony from 2,800 metric tons of ore, which averaged 38.6% stibnite, during intermittent operations from 1915 to 1977.
Another site, the Goodwin Mine, located about 1,500 meters east of Scrafford, supplied antimony during World War I, although the quantities and stibnite grades remain undocumented.
Recent drilling by Felix Gold has identified similar high-grade antimony mineralization at the NW Array target, approximately 2,000 meters west of Scrafford.
The company has confirmed the high-grade characteristics of near-surface stibnite at both NW Array and Scrafford through trenching last fall.
Key highlights from the trenching results include:
– Three meters averaging 14.5% antimony and 1.01 grams per metric ton of gold in trench NWTR001 (NW Array).
– Eight meters averaging 5.37% antimony and 1.65 g/t gold in trench NWTR002 (NW Array).
– Three meters averaging 50.26% antimony and 5.29 g/t gold in trench NWTR003 (NW Array).
– Four meters averaging 12.2% antimony and 4.25 g/t gold in trench SCTR001 (Scrafford).
To facilitate antimony production by the end of 2025, Felix Gold has initiated a program featuring a gravity geophysical survey.
The outcomes of this survey, along with a subsequent induced polarization (IP) geophysical survey, will assist in defining targets for further drilling.
“The commencement of gravity surveys marks a significant milestone, initiating the next phase of exploration and paving the way for drilling, resource modelling, and completion of economic studies targeting the end of July 2025,” Webb noted.
As exploration advances, the company will also focus on engineering studies to support the establishment of a small-scale mine, along with a comprehensive stakeholder engagement program.
“We recognize that being a good neighbor is as important as good geology,” Webb added, emphasizing the company’s commitment to transparent engagement with the Fairbanks community.
Felix Gold is designing its program to minimize environmental impacts while maximizing benefits for the local community by providing multiple avenues for community members to share their thoughts, including a dedicated online portal, community presentations, and one-on-one meetings.
The planned small-scale but high-grade antimony mine could deliver a domestic supply of a mineral crucial to military preparedness and the broader U.S. economy.
A report by the U.S. House Armed Services Committee in 2022 raised concerns over geopolitical tensions involving Russia and China, which could lead to supply chain disruptions, particularly affecting antimony procurement.
China and Russia dominate nearly 75% of the global antimony supply, raising alarms about reliability and access to this critical mineral.
These apprehensions turned into reality when, in December, China implemented a ban on all exports of antimony, gallium, and germanium to the U.S.
Officials in the Department of Defense view high-grade antimony findings in Alaska as a potential near-term and secure domestic supply source.
This development aligns with broader governmental efforts, initiated during the Trump administration, to boost production of critical minerals both in Alaska and across the country.
Felix Gold asserts that the Treasure Creek project, characterized by exceptional antimony grades and favorable proximity to necessary infrastructure, is well-positioned to address America’s antimony needs swiftly.
“Our development approach is deliberately simple, fast, and suited to small, low-impact operations, utilizing mobile, modular equipment,” Webb explained.
The historical production at Treasure Creek, combined with existing access to roads, power, and a skilled local workforce, contributes to reducing capital intensity and development risk.
The ambitious plans outlined by Felix suggest that the company is on track to establish a significant antimony production operation by the end of the year.
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