Locksley Advances Mojave Project with Maiden Drilling and 99.5% Pure Antimony Trioxide
Locksley Resources has kicked off maiden diamond drilling at its Desert Antimony Mine and El Campo Rare Earth Element Prospect, alongside producing 99.5% purity antimony trioxide, reinforcing its push for a US domestic critical minerals supply chain.
- Maiden diamond drilling commenced at Desert Antimony Mine and El Campo REE Prospect
- High-grade antimony sampling shows weighted average of 18.7% Sb at Desert Antimony Mine
- Bench-scale production of 99.5% purity antimony trioxide achieved from Mojave feedstock
- Acceptance into US Department of Energy's Critical Materials Innovation Hub
- Board changes with new Non-Executive Chairman appointed
Maiden Drilling Marks Operational Milestone
Locksley Resources (ASX:LKY) has turned the drill rig for the first time at its Desert Antimony Mine (DAM) in California, initiating a maiden diamond drilling program targeting extensions of high-grade stibnite mineralisation below historic workings. This move is a defining moment in the company’s mine-to-market strategy for domestic US antimony supply, aiming to validate geological models and secure core samples for metallurgical testing aligned with its partnerships including Rice University and the US Department of Energy (DOE).
Concurrent surface sampling during site preparation confirmed the continuity of high-grade antimony mineralisation, returning grab samples up to 16.90% Sb, which aligns with previous batch sampling results showing a weighted average of 18.7% Sb across 287 kg of material. These findings support the geological interpretation that the stibnite veins extend both above and along strike from historic mine levels, providing confidence in drill targeting and resource potential. The company’s earlier reporting of this continuity can be seen in its high-grade antimony assays.
Rare Earths Drilling Commences at El Campo Prospect
Following the Desert Antimony Mine, Locksley has also started diamond drilling at the El Campo Rare Earth Element (REE) Prospect, located just four miles from MP Materials’ Mountain Pass REE Mine; the only active US rare earth producer. The initial program includes four drill holes testing approximately 900 metres of strike for carbonatite-hosted REE mineralisation. Previous surface samples at El Campo returned up to 12.1% total rare earth oxides (TREO), underpinning optimism for substantial mineralisation at depth. Initial assay results are expected within 4-6 weeks, representing a key near-term catalyst for the Mojave Project’s broader rare earth ambitions. This drilling program was detailed in Locksley’s recent update on diamond drilling at El Campo.
Processing Breakthroughs and Strategic Partnerships
On the processing front, Locksley achieved a significant milestone by producing 99.5% purity antimony trioxide at bench scale from DAM feedstock, verified by X-ray diffraction analysis. This purity level meets critical thresholds for defence applications, including munitions primers and flame-retardant systems, marking progress toward a fully US-based mine-to-market refining pathway. Alongside this, metallurgical optimisation with Hazen Research Inc. confirmed metallic antimony exceeding 99% purity, approaching defence-grade specifications, and resulted in a memorandum of understanding for toll processing of high-grade stibnite from DAM, offering a low-capital route to early production.
Complementing traditional metallurgy, the DeepSolv™ research program with Rice University advanced strong antimony extraction techniques and explored novel downstream applications such as antimony-based composite anodes and flame-retardant electrolyte additives for lithium-ion batteries. This integrated research positions Locksley as a potential technology enabler across the entire antimony value chain.
Corporate Developments and Strategic Recognition
Corporate changes included the resignation of Chairman Pat Burke and the appointment of Bevan Tarratt as Non-Executive Chairman, signalling a refreshed leadership as the company scales operations. Strategically, Locksley was accepted as an Affiliate Member of the DOE’s Critical Materials Innovation Hub, a significant endorsement that embeds the company within the US critical minerals innovation ecosystem and opens collaboration opportunities with national laboratories such as Ames, Oak Ridge, and Lawrence Livermore. This membership complements ongoing research partnerships and supports the company’s ambition to strengthen US supply chains for critical materials.
Financially, Locksley ended the quarter with approximately AUD 16.7 million in cash, having spent AUD 2.1 million on exploration focused on the Mojave Project. The company’s sustained investment in exploration and processing development underpins its forward momentum toward pilot plant design and eventual production.
Bottom Line?
Locksley’s maiden drilling and processing milestones position it as a serious contender in US critical minerals, but pending assay results and scale-up of metallurgical processes remain pivotal next steps.
Questions in the middle?
- Will forthcoming assay results confirm the scale and grade needed to underpin commercial development at Desert Antimony Mine?
- How will Locksley balance advancing both antimony and rare earth elements within the Mojave Project’s portfolio?
- What impact will DOE collaboration have on accelerating Locksley’s path to production and market qualification?
