As the world faces a critical supply gap left by China’s recent export ban on antimony, three key projects in Alaska are emerging as vital contributors to the U.S. effort to secure this strategically important metalloid.
One of these projects, the Mohawk Antimony project, has already begun trucking high-grade stibnite ore from Fairbanks to the U.S. Antimony Corporation’s refinery in Montana, ultimately destined for America’s National Defense Stockpile.
Gary Evans, Chairman and CEO of U.S. Antimony Corporation, highlighted the significance of this project during a September 8 event, marking Alaska’s vital role in strengthening U.S. mineral independence from foreign adversaries.
In an effort to address the urgent need for antimony, a $245 million contract has been signed with the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) for the production of antimony bars derived from Alaska-mined stibnite. Evans remarked, “It’s incredibly meaningful for all our employees to play such a strategic role in strengthening our nation’s defense readiness.”
Historically, Alaska has consistently supplied the U.S. with antimony during major conflicts since World War I, and with China tightening exports of critical minerals and Russia’s ongoing war in Ukraine, several new projects are gaining momentum in the state.
The strategic importance of antimony cannot be overstated; it has long been valued for its role in hardening military ammunition and in flame-retardant compounds, but its applications have grown to include use in automotive batteries, semiconductors, specialty glass, and liquid metal batteries.
American manufacturers currently require approximately 50 million pounds of antimony annually for a variety of military and consumer products. Until recently, the majority of this metal was imported from China, Tajikistan, and Russia, which together accounted for around 90% of global supply.
Recent geopolitical tensions, including China’s 2024 export ban that impacts various critical minerals, and strained U.S.-Russia relations have exacerbated supply challenges, putting American manufacturers and the Department of War at risk of interruptions that could compromise national security.
Jeffrey Frankston, the acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Resilience, expressed concerns stating, “China and Russia control the market for antimony and all its derivatives, putting the United States at risk of interruptions that could jeopardize national security.”
In light of the pressing need for a secure and stable supply of antimony, U.S. officials have turned their attention to Alaska, a region historically rich in this essential resource.
The documentation of antimony deposits in Alaska dates back over a century, with Alfred Brooks noting in a 1917 report that stibnite, as the primary source of antimony, is widely distributed across the state.
During World War I, demand for antimony surged due to the war effort and was met by various deposits spread across Alaska.
The Fairbanks district, in particular, has proven rich in antimony resources, and its significance was highlighted by James Barker, a former geologist for the U.S. Bureau of Mines. In 1915, multiple antimony mines in the Fairbanks area were operational, with the Scrafford mine emerging as the most prolific, producing significant quantities of stibnite during both World Wars and ongoing into the 1970s.
Today, the Treasure Creek antimony-gold project is poised to rekindle Alaska’s role as a crucial supplier of stibnite. Felix Gold Ltd. has optioned this project from the Treasure Creek Partnership, with ambitions to develop a small mine capable of providing substantial amounts of antimony to contribute to national strategic needs.
Felix’s Executive Director Joe Webb remarked, “Against the backdrop of China’s export ban and tightening global supply, the strategic nature of this asset is clearly evident.”
In 2025, significant attention was placed on the Treasure Creek project, as federal officials from the Permitting Improvement Steering Council and the Environmental Protection Agency visited to assess its potential to bolster the U.S. supply chain for critical minerals.
Emily Domenech, Executive Director of the Permitting Council, indicated that critical mineral projects are a top priority for the Trump Administration and emphasized the project’s readiness for expedited reviews.
During this visit, officials observed high-grade antimony veins emerging in the NW Array target, located about a mile from the historic Scrafford mine.
Drilling has confirmed significant mineralization depths, with samples showing grades as high as 26% antimony over mineable widths.
As development plans continue, the program for 2025 will include resource drilling, environmental surveys, engineering studies, and community consultations. Webb expressed optimism regarding federal support for the project: “During their visit, federal agencies provided feedback that Treasure Creek is one of the most infrastructure-ready and well-serviced projects at near shovel-ready status that they have visited.”
Simultaneously, U.S. Antimony’s Mohawk project has already commenced shipments of ore to national stockpiles, positioning the company to play an immediate role in replenishing U.S. supplies under its contract with the DLA.
This project capitalizes on high-grade stibnite leftover from historical gold mining activities, allowing for quick operational scaling without traditional mining setbacks.
U.S. Antimony has reported a fourfold expansion of its Montana refinery to meet rising demand, as the company anticipates producing up to 20 million pounds of antimony bars annually.
By September 30, the company announced their ability to fulfill an initial $10 million delivery order for 315,000 pounds of antimony metal ingots to begin replenishing national stockpiles.
Meanwhile, Nova Minerals Ltd. has received a $43 million grant from the War Department to rapidly advance a pilot-scale antimony mine at its Estelle project located approximately 100 miles west of Anchorage.
The Estelle project, which contains significant gold resources, is now attracting primary attention due to its high-grade antimony deposits, drawing visits from U.S. and Australian government officials.
Christopher Gerteisen, CEO of Nova Minerals, stated that their surface stibnite stockpiles could effectively produce antimony trisulfide for U.S. strategic uses with minimal further concentration required.
Advanced ore sorting technology has shown promising results, upgrading samples from Estelle to a high-grade concentrate suitable for military specifications.
The Pentagon’s interest in Estelle has culminated in funding to establish a mining and refining hub that aims to contribute refined antimony products to the U.S. industrial base.
Together, the Treasure Creek, Mohawk, and Estelle projects indicate a robust resurgence in Alaska’s mining industry as the state reaffirms its vital role in offering a domestic supply of antimony, crucial for America’s economic and military readiness amidst evolving global supply dynamics.
image source from：miningnewsnorth
