Southern Cross Gold Champions Australia’s A$1.2B Antimony Reserve Push

Australia’s Bold Step on Critical Minerals

In a decisive move to secure its critical minerals supply chain, the Australian Government has unveiled a A$1.2 billion Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve, prioritising antimony alongside gallium and rare earth elements. This initiative aims to reduce dependence on dominant global suppliers, particularly China and Russia, which currently control around 80% of the world’s mined and processed antimony.

Southern Cross Gold Consolidated Ltd (ASX – SX2) has warmly welcomed this landmark policy, positioning its Sunday Creek project in Victoria as a vital contributor to Australia’s strategic minerals security. Located just 60 kilometres north of Melbourne, Sunday Creek is one of the largest undeveloped gold-antimony deposits globally, situated in a Tier 1 mining jurisdiction with excellent infrastructure.

Victoria – Australia’s Antimony Heartland

Victoria’s historical and ongoing role as Australia’s sole antimony producer underpins the state’s critical minerals credentials. Antimony has long been Victoria’s second most important metal after gold, with a mining heritage dating back to the 1860s. The region’s Costerfield mine, located near Sunday Creek, remains among the world’s top five antimony producers, reinforcing the geological and operational potential of Southern Cross Gold’s project.

The Victorian Government’s A$200 billion critical minerals endowment and its Critical Minerals Roadmap provide a robust policy framework supporting responsible development. Premier Jacinta Allan’s administration has demonstrated strong backing, exemplified by the recent approval of Southern Cross Gold’s exploration decline at Sunday Creek, enabling underground drilling to commence.

Strong Exploration and Metallurgical Results

Southern Cross Gold reports encouraging exploration progress, with over 100 drill intersections exceeding 1 gram per tonne gold and 73 intersections surpassing 10% antimony. Metallurgical testwork has confirmed high recoveries of both metals, with gold recovery rates between 92% and 96% and successful antimony-gold separation, indicating the project’s economic viability.

These technical milestones, combined with the project’s proximity to Melbourne and existing infrastructure, position Sunday Creek as a compelling candidate to support Australia’s critical minerals ambitions and contribute to allied supply chains under the AUKUS partnership.

Strategic Implications and Future Outlook

Southern Cross Gold’s endorsement of the federal initiative underscores the growing recognition of antimony’s strategic importance, particularly for defence, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing applications. The company’s readiness to engage with government stakeholders signals potential acceleration in project development aligned with national priorities.

While the announcement stops short of providing specific timelines or production forecasts, the convergence of government support, strong exploration results, and strategic location suggests Sunday Creek could emerge as a cornerstone asset in Australia’s critical minerals landscape.