Trigg Minerals Secures Utah Permit, Poised to Drill High-Grade Antimony Canyon

Regulatory Green Light for Antimony Canyon Drilling

Trigg Minerals Limited (ASX, TMG) has reached a pivotal milestone with the Utah Division of Oil, Gas and Mining granting tentative approval for its maiden diamond core drilling program at the Antimony Canyon Project (ACP). This approval follows the lodgement of a Notice of Intention and is subject to the final permit issuance upon bond payment, expected imminently. The project’s focus on 20 patented mining claims, private land parcels with fee simple ownership, has allowed Trigg to bypass the often lengthy federal permitting process, accelerating its path to drilling readiness.

Strategic Focus on Patented Claims

By concentrating drilling efforts exclusively on patented claims, Trigg benefits from streamlined state-level regulation, avoiding federal environmental reviews that can delay projects by years. These claims include historically productive mines such as Emma and Gem, known for their exceptional antimony grades. The targeted "Salt n Pepper" tuff horizon, a felsic lapilli tuff unit, outcrops extensively on these claims and has yielded recent surface samples with bonanza grades exceeding 29% antimony, underscoring the high-grade potential of the deposit.

Drilling Program and Contractor Appointment

The Phase 1 drilling campaign will comprise at least 24 diamond core holes totaling approximately 1,650 metres. Trigg has engaged Energold Drilling USA, a specialist contractor renowned for operating in challenging terrains, to deploy heli-portable S4 Ranger rigs. These modular rigs can be transported by helicopter, minimizing environmental disturbance and enabling access to difficult canyon wall locations where the highest-grade mineralisation is expected. The program aims to test both near-surface and deeper structural feeders, with holes planned up to 120 metres deep.

Comprehensive Preparations and Environmental Compliance

Site preparations are complete, including the establishment of a secure core logging and cutting facility on private land to ensure sample integrity. Cultural and biological clearances have been obtained, confirming no archaeological sites within the disturbance area. Additionally, SLR Consulting has been contracted to implement rigorous quality assurance and control protocols. The drilling contract includes winterisation measures such as line heaters to maintain operations through colder months, reflecting Trigg’s commitment to operational continuity and environmental stewardship.

Looking Ahead, From Exploration to Development

Managing Director Andre Booyzen emphasised that securing the drilling permit transitions Trigg from an explorer to an active developer within the US critical minerals sector. The initial drilling phase will inform potential pilot-scale mining activities planned for 2026. Meanwhile, the company continues to consolidate its land position, having staked over 380 additional unpatented claims surrounding the patented core, forming a district-scale critical minerals asset. However, these federal claims remain subject to lengthier permitting processes and are not part of the immediate drilling focus.