Treasure Creek Trenching Yields 50.26% Sb and 5.29 g/t Gold Over 3m
Felix Gold Limited reports outstanding high-grade antimony and gold results from trench sampling at its Treasure Creek Project, highlighting potential for near-term production amid critical supply concerns.
- 3m true width at 50.26% antimony and 5.29 g/t gold at NW Array
- Multiple samples at Scrafford Shear grading between 37.5% and 43.7% antimony
- High-grade mineralization confirmed across two distinct production centers
- Metallurgical testwork pending to support processing optimization
- Strategic importance due to U.S. reliance on imported antimony amid Chinese export restrictions
Exceptional Trenching Results at Treasure Creek
Felix Gold Limited (ASX: FXG) has released compelling new assay results from its recent trenching program at the Treasure Creek Project in Alaska’s Fairbanks Mining District. The standout highlight is a continuous 3-metre true width intersection grading an extraordinary 50.26% antimony (Sb) coupled with 5.29 grams per tonne (g/t) gold at the NW Array prospect. This follows earlier reports of high-grade mineralization and reinforces the project's potential as a significant domestic source of critical minerals.
Additional trench sampling at the historic Scrafford Shear has returned six samples with antimony grades ranging from 37.5% to 43.7% Sb, alongside notable gold values. These results underscore the presence of two geographically distinct, high-grade antimony production centers within the Treasure Creek tenure.
Strategic Implications Amid Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
The timing of these results is particularly significant given the tightening global antimony supply chain. With China imposing stringent export restrictions and a full export ban on antimony in 2024, the United States faces a critical shortage of this mineral, essential for defense, flame retardants, energy storage, and high-tech applications. Felix Gold’s Treasure Creek Project emerges as a strategically vital asset capable of supporting domestic production and reducing U.S. dependence on foreign sources.
Executive Director Joe Webb emphasised the strategic importance, stating that the project’s high-grade mineralization and proximity to existing infrastructure position Felix Gold well to capitalize on government initiatives aimed at securing critical mineral supply chains. The U.S. Senate’s National Defense Authorization Act and the Inflation Reduction Act provide substantial funding and incentives to develop domestic sources of minerals like antimony.
Technical Insights and Next Steps
The trenching program at NW Array involved continuous 1-metre sampling over 52 metres of trench face, with the most remarkable results coming from trench NWTR004. Here, three consecutive samples yielded antimony grades of 45.96%, 65.40%, and 39.43%, confirming a robust and consistent mineralized zone. The true width of mineralization is confirmed at 3 metres, a critical factor for resource modeling and future mining plans.
At Scrafford, systematic trenching and rock face sampling revealed high-grade stibnite mineralization within a well-understood shear zone. Six samples exceeded 35% Sb, with gold assays up to 4.54 g/t, highlighting the potential for near-surface production. However, variability in mineralization style poses sampling challenges, necessitating further detailed studies.
Metallurgical testwork is underway to determine optimal processing methods for both NW Array and Scrafford mineralization. These results will be pivotal in assessing the economic viability of near-term, small-scale production, a key objective for Felix Gold given the high grades encountered.
Positioning in the Fairbanks Mining District
Treasure Creek sits within one of the most prolific gold and antimony districts in Alaska, adjacent to major operations such as Kinross Gold’s Fort Knox mine and Freegold Ventures’ Golden Summit discovery. Felix Gold’s extensive landholding of over 392 square kilometres offers multiple exploration targets, with historical production grades reaching up to 58% Sb at the Scrafford Mine.
The company benefits from proximity to Fairbanks city, providing access to infrastructure, skilled labor, and low-cost power, all of which enhance the feasibility of advancing the project towards production.
Outlook and Market Context
Felix Gold’s recent trenching results mark a significant milestone in its quest to become a premier gold and critical minerals explorer in the Tintina Gold Province. The combination of high-grade antimony and gold mineralization, strategic location, and supportive U.S. policy environment creates a compelling narrative for investors and stakeholders.
As metallurgical results and further drilling data emerge, the market will be watching closely to see how Felix Gold translates these promising exploration outcomes into tangible production and supply chain solutions.
Bottom Line?
Felix Gold’s Treasure Creek Project is poised to become a critical domestic antimony source, but metallurgical results will be the next key test.
Questions in the middle?
- How will pending metallurgical testwork impact the feasibility of near-term production?
- What are the timelines and capital requirements for advancing Treasure Creek to production?
- How might evolving U.S. government policies and funding influence Felix Gold’s development strategy?