American Tungsten Reports 11m at 3.1% Sb in Maiden Utah Drilling

Discovery Highlights

American Tungsten & Antimony Ltd (ASX:AT4) has announced a breakthrough in its exploration efforts at the Antimony Canyon Project (ACP) in Utah, USA. The company’s initial diamond drilling program has intersected high-grade antimony mineralisation from shallow depths at the Little Emma Prospect, part of its 100%-owned patented claims. Notably, drill holes returned intervals such as 11.03 metres at 3.1% antimony and a high-grade core of 2.62 metres at 12.54% antimony, signalling a robust and continuous mineralised system.

These results are particularly encouraging given the mineralised widths far exceed those typical of western antimony vein systems, which generally average around 30 centimetres. Instead, the mineralisation at ACP resembles stratiform stibnite deposits, with thicknesses ranging from 1 to 5 metres, comparable to the world’s largest antimony district at Xikuangshan in China.

Geological Context and Strategic Significance

The Antimony Canyon mineralisation is hosted within a hydrothermal breccia system, with sulphide minerals including stibnite, pyrite, and marcasite indicating a multi-stage epithermal event. The project’s geological setting shares key features with the Xikuangshan district, such as mineralisation within calcareous layers and structural controls that channel mineralising fluids. While the comparison is geological rather than predictive, it underscores the potential scale and continuity of the system.

Surface sampling has further validated the discovery, with grab samples from the historic Little Emma pit area returning grades as high as 29.4% antimony. These near-surface exposures highlight opportunities for early-stage extraction and provide valuable targets for ongoing drilling.

Supporting Exploration and Future Plans

The drilling results support the company’s previously defined Exploration Target of 6.1 to 6.9 million tonnes at 1.4 to 2.3% antimony, reinforcing confidence in the project’s potential. American Tungsten & Antimony is advancing geophysical surveys, including Induced Polarisation and Electromagnetic methods, to delineate sulphide-rich zones beyond the patented claims. These surveys will guide a second phase of drilling aimed at expanding the mineralised footprint.

Additionally, work programs have been lodged for further prospects within the ACP, such as Black Jack and Tan Jack, ensuring a pipeline of exploration news throughout 2026. The company is also progressing plans for an antimony smelter site selection, positioning ACP as a strategic critical mineral source for Western economies amid growing supply chain security concerns.

Challenges and Cautionary Notes

While the results are promising, the Exploration Target remains conceptual, with no Mineral Resource yet estimated. Some drilling intervals experienced core recovery issues, potentially underrepresenting mineralisation locally. The company cautions that further exploration is required to confirm the extent, grade, and economic viability of the deposit. Moreover, the analogy to the Xikuangshan district is provided solely for geological context and does not guarantee similar outcomes.