In an era marked by escalating tensions and supply chain vulnerabilities, Alaska is poised to emerge as a crucial supplier of antimony, a mineral essential for both military preparedness and civilian industries.
With the Chinese government’s impending export ban impacting critical minerals, American manufacturers and the military are seeking domestic alternatives to reduce dependency on foreign sources.
Among the notable projects leading this charge is U.S. Antimony Corporation’s Mohawk project, which is already delivering high-grade antimony to the United States’ National Defense Stockpile.
On September 8, U.S. Antimony Chairman and CEO Gary Evans highlighted the vital role that Alaska plays in ensuring resource independence during a ceremony at the Mohawk Antimony project near Fairbanks, Alaska.
The company has secured a significant contract valued at $245 million with the U.S. Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to supply antimony bars derived from stibnite—a mineral rich in antimony—mined in Alaska and refined in Montana.
Evans emphasized the importance of this effort for the employees and the nation, stating, “It’s incredibly meaningful for all our employees to play such a strategic role in strengthening our nation’s defense readiness.”
Historically, Alaska has provided the U.S. with antimony throughout major conflicts, including both World Wars, establishing a legacy of supporting the country during times of need.
As China’s export restrictions tighten, and as Russia remains isolated due to its ongoing war in Ukraine, three main projects in Alaska are gearing up to fill the antimony supply gap.
Antimony, known for its applications in hardening bullets and creating flame-retardant materials, has growing importance in modern technologies, including automotive batteries and semiconductors.
Today, American manufacturers require approximately 50 million pounds of antimony annually for a diverse array of products.
Previously, most of this antimony supply came from imports, with China, Tajikistan, and Russia accounting for about 90% of the global market.
Jeffrey Frankston, acting Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Industrial Base Resilience, noted the risk posed by foreign control over antimony supplies, 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.”
To mitigate this risk, U.S. authorities are turning to Alaska, where high-grade stibnite is readily available in its gold-rich terrain, ensuring a reliable domestic supply of this critical mineral.
The historical context of Alaska’s antimony production dates back to the early 20th century, when geologist Alfred Brooks documented numerous stibnite occurrences in the region.
These deposits have proven invaluable in meeting wartime demands, and Alaska’s mining operations have been established in various gold-rich areas, including Nome, Fairbanks, and Iditarod.
The Fairbanks district, in particular, has a rich history of antimony mining, with operations dating back to 1915.
As detailed in Brooks’ findings, the Scrafford mine alone produced significant amounts of ore containing high stibnite grades and was actively mined during both World Wars, contributing to the United States’ military capabilities.
The resurgence of interest in Alaska’s antimony resources is exemplified by the Treasure Creek project, which is now being advanced by Felix Gold Ltd.
Joe Webb, Executive Director of Felix Gold, pointed out the strategic implications of the Treasure Creek antimony-gold project, noting, “Against the backdrop of China’s export ban and tightening global supply, the strategic nature of this asset is clearly evident.”
Treasure Creek’s development has drawn attention from federal regulators, as officials from the Federal Permitting Improvement Steering Council and the Environmental Protection Agency visited the site to assess its potential.
The ongoing work at Treasure Creek includes resource drilling and community consultation, strengthening its suitability for rapid development as a critical mineral source.
Meanwhile, U.S. Antimony’s Mohawk project has already begun shipping antimony ore from its operations to its Montana smelter for government stockpiling.
This project bypasses traditional mining processes, as U.S. Antimony focuses on extracting high-grade stibnite remnants left from historical gold mining, expediting the supply chain to national stockpiles.
Evans noted the project’s significance, stating, “To put this in proper context, we have successfully won a sole-sourced long-term contract from the U.S. Government for approximately $245 million, while our total reported revenues for 2024 were just $14.9 million.”
The recent expansion of U.S. Antimony’s Montana refinery will enable the company to increase production capacity, ultimately facilitating the delivery of military-grade antimony products.
With an initial order from DLA for 315,000 pounds of antimony ingots already placed, U.S. Antimony is well-positioned to meet growing demands.
In addition to the Mohawk and Treasure Creek projects, Alaska’s Estelle project is also gaining momentum, having received a $43 million grant from the War Department to enhance its potential as a critical antimony supplier.
Located about 100 miles west of Anchorage, Estelle is notable not only for its gold deposits but also for its high-grade antimony.
CEO Christopher Gerteisen stated, “While the material requires modest further concentration to meet military specifications, this positions Nova as a potential critical contributor to national defense supply chains.”
To optimize antimony production at Estelle, the implementation of advanced ore sorting technology has proven successful, enhancing the quality and grade of the recovered mineral.
As these projects advance, the opportunities for Alaska to reintegrate into the U.S. supply chain for antimony are substantial, solidifying its position as a key partner in addressing national security concerns.
With an emphasis on fostering local industries and reducing reliance on international suppliers, Alaska is proving itself as a reliable source of critical minerals essential for the U.S. economy and military strategies moving forward.
The convergence of the Mohawk, Treasure Creek, and Estelle projects represents a strategic effort not only to fill existing supply gaps but to build a sustainable supply chain that supports national defense and economic growth for the foreseeable future.
image source from：miningnewsnorth
