Antimony Supply Crunch Looms as Southern Cross Gold Unveils Record Grades at Sunday Creek
Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd has reported compelling drill results from its Rising Sun prospect at Sunday Creek, Victoria, confirming high-grade gold-antimony continuity and exceptional antimony grades that reinforce the project’s global significance.
- 0.5m @ 342.2 g/t AuEq confirms strike continuity in RS15 vein
- 18m @ 3.7 g/t AuEq interval highlights broad mineralized zones
- Exceptional antimony grades up to 43.8% Sb recorded
- Project now hosts 70 drill intersections exceeding 100 g/t AuEq
- 200,000m drilling program planned through 2027 to expand resource
Rising Sun Drill Results Reinforce Continuity and Grade
Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd (ASX – SX2) has unveiled impressive new diamond drilling results from its Rising Sun prospect within the Sunday Creek gold-antimony project in Victoria, Australia. The latest assays confirm the continuity of high-grade gold-antimony mineralization along strike and at depth, underscoring the project's status as one of the world’s highest-grade gold projects.
Notably, drill hole SDDSC169AW1 intercepted a narrow but spectacular 0.5 metre interval grading 342.2 grams per tonne gold equivalent (AuEq), including 335.5 g/t gold and 2.8% antimony. This intercept lies just 12 metres along strike from a previously reported 0.7 metre intersection grading 604 g/t AuEq, confirming robust lateral continuity within the RS15 vein system.
Broad Zones Host Multiple High-Grade Shoots
Beyond these high-grade shoots, broader mineralized zones were also encountered. Hole SDDSC178W1 returned an 18 metre interval averaging 3.7 g/t AuEq, containing multiple higher-grade sub-intervals. This demonstrates the scale and complexity of the mineralized system, with stacked vein architecture confirmed over vertical extents exceeding 150 metres.
Importantly, the project exhibits exceptional antimony grades, with assays reaching up to 43.8% Sb, approaching pure stibnite. This rare combination of high gold and antimony grades enhances the project's strategic value, given antimony’s critical role in defense, semiconductors, and energy transition technologies.
Strategic Importance and Future Outlook
Southern Cross Gold’s Sunday Creek project now boasts 70 drill intersections exceeding 100 g/t AuEq, a milestone that places it among the globe’s elite high-grade gold projects. The company highlights the dual-metal nature of the deposit, which could mitigate risks associated with gold price volatility by leveraging antimony credits.
With China’s recent export restrictions on antimony, Western markets face supply challenges, positioning Sunday Creek as a potentially critical supplier. Southern Cross Gold plans an extensive 200,000 metre drilling program through 2027 to further delineate and expand the resource, supported by ongoing metallurgical testing that aims to optimize recovery of both gold and antimony.
CEO Michael Hudson emphasized the exceptional continuity and scale of the mineralization, noting that the combination of high-grade shoots within broader mineralized envelopes is exceptional by global standards. The company’s use of advanced wedge drilling technology has been instrumental in precisely targeting these complex vein systems.
Bottom Line?
Southern Cross Gold’s latest drill results at Rising Sun deepen confidence in Sunday Creek’s high-grade potential and strategic antimony value, setting the stage for resource expansion and market impact.
Questions in the middle?
- How will ongoing metallurgical testing influence the economic viability of gold-antimony recovery?
- What are the implications of China’s antimony export restrictions for Sunday Creek’s market positioning?
- How might the extensive 200,000m drilling program reshape the project’s resource estimates and development timeline?
