Locksley Achieves Up to 85.9% Antimony Recovery, 59.6% Concentrate Grade
Locksley Resources reports robust metallurgical testwork from its Mojave Project, confirming high antimony recoveries and concentrate grades that support a domestic US supply chain. The results align with US strategic priorities for critical mineral independence.
- Antimony recoveries between 82.9% and 85.9% from initial flotation tests
- High-grade concentrate achieved up to 59.6% antimony
- Testwork validates potential for 100% Made in America antimony supply
- Further pilot processing underway using DeepSolv™ technology at Rice University
- Drilling planned pending regulatory approval to improve sample quality and recoveries
Strong Metallurgical Foundations for Domestic Antimony Supply
Locksley Resources Limited (ASX, LKY) has unveiled promising initial metallurgical testwork results from its Mojave Project’s Desert Antimony Mine Prospect in California. The tests, conducted on a 23.1kg composite surface sample, demonstrated antimony recoveries ranging from 82.9% to 85.9%, with concentrate grades reaching as high as 59.6% antimony. These outcomes validate the project’s potential to underpin a fully domestic, mine-to-market antimony supply chain in the United States.
Aligning with US Strategic Mineral Priorities
Antimony is a critical mineral essential for defense, semiconductors, and metal alloys, yet the US currently lacks domestic production. Locksley’s results directly support the US government’s strategic objective to secure onshore critical mineral supplies, reducing reliance on foreign sources, particularly China. The Mojave Project’s ability to produce high-grade stibnite concentrate using conventional flotation technology marks a significant milestone in advancing this goal.
Technical Insights and Next Steps
The metallurgical program, overseen by Independent Metallurgical Operations Pty Ltd and conducted at Base Metallurgical Laboratories in Arizona, employed a series of flotation tests with varying reagents and grind sizes. Notably, the initial rougher stage produced a concentrate grade of 59.6% antimony, indicating natural liberation of antimony minerals from the ore. Further regrind and cleaning stages are expected to enhance concentrate grade beyond 50%, approaching the theoretical purity of stibnite at 71.68% antimony.
Recognizing that the composite surface sample may have undergone oxidation, Locksley plans to collect fresh rock samples via drilling to potentially improve recovery rates. Drilling permits are pending approval from the Bureau of Land Management, with a maiden drilling program anticipated in late 2025.
Innovative Processing and Strategic Partnerships
In parallel with flotation testwork, Locksley is collaborating with Rice University to apply DeepSolv™ Dep Eutectic Solvent extraction technology to the antimony concentrate. This pilot test aims to produce antimony metal ingot, oxide, and trisulphide, further advancing the project’s downstream processing capabilities and reinforcing its role in securing a domestic critical minerals supply chain.
Outlook for the Mojave Project
Technical Director Julian Woodcock expressed optimism about the results, highlighting the suitability of conventional flotation for producing high-quality concentrate even from oxidized surface samples. The ongoing metallurgical program and planned drilling are expected to refine these outcomes, positioning Locksley as a key player in the US critical minerals landscape.
Bottom Line?
Locksley’s Mojave Project is rapidly advancing toward delivering a secure, domestic source of critical antimony, with upcoming drilling and pilot processing set to define its commercial viability.
Questions in the middle?
- How will fresh drill samples impact antimony recovery and concentrate quality?
- What are the timelines and regulatory hurdles for the planned drilling program?
- Can DeepSolv™ technology scale effectively for commercial antimony production?
