Larvotto Resources is on track to restart production at its Hillgrove Antimony-Gold Project by mid-2026, backed by robust drilling results, plant refurbishment progress, and strategic positioning in Australia's Critical Minerals Reserve.
- Hillgrove production restart targeted mid-2026
- Strong antimony-gold-tungsten drilling results reinforce resource growth
- Former Senator David Fawcett appointed Strategic Advisor
- Fully funded with A$82M cash and undrawn bond facility
- Ongoing due diligence at Mt Isa copper project
Hillgrove Poised as Major Antimony Supplier
Larvotto Resources Limited (ASX:LRV) is gearing up to resume production at its Hillgrove Antimony-Gold Project in New South Wales by mid-2026, aiming to become one of the world’s largest antimony producers outside China. The project hosts a globally significant resource estimated at 1.7 million tonnes at 7.4g/t gold equivalent, positioning Hillgrove among the top 10 global antimony deposits and the largest in Australia.
Antimony’s strategic importance was underscored this quarter with its inclusion as one of three initial priority commodities in the Australian Government’s newly legislated $1.2 billion Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve. This initiative is designed to secure long-term supply chains for key minerals critical to clean energy, defence, and high-tech manufacturing. Larvotto’s Hillgrove is uniquely placed as one of only two Australian suppliers capable of supporting this stockpile, a fact bolstered by the appointment of former Federal Senator The Hon. David Fawcett as Strategic Advisor to guide the company’s engagement with government and strategic partners.
The company forecasts annual production of approximately 4,900 tonnes of antimony, representing around 7% of global mine supply, once operations restart. This scale is significant given the current global supply constraints and reliance on China for antimony, potentially elevating Hillgrove’s role in Western markets and critical mineral supply chains.
Plant Refurbishment and Underground Development Progress
Refurbishment of the Hillgrove processing plant is advancing on schedule and on budget, with commissioning expected mid-2026. Key milestones include removal and refurbishment of major equipment, replacement of outdated services, and near completion of primary and secondary crusher upgrades. These upgrades will expand processing capacity and allow for operational efficiencies such as dayshift-only crushing to mitigate noise.
Underground activities have ramped up with contractor PYBAR mobilised and over 2,500m2 of underground drives rehabilitated. Waste trucking and haul road upgrades are complete, and a second Jumbo mining machine is joining the fleet to support production blasting. This groundwork supports the initial eight-year mine life and a workforce projected to grow from 53 to 162 full-time staff by June, predominantly sourced locally to enhance community stability.
Robust Drilling Results Confirm Multi-Commodity Potential
Larvotto’s extensive drilling program across the Hillgrove mineral field continues to deliver strong results, confirming high-grade antimony, gold, and increasingly tungsten mineralisation across multiple prospects. Notably, the Blacklode Prospect within the Metz Mining Centre has yielded wide zones of mineralisation including 31.5m at 4.35g/t gold equivalent and high-grade tungsten intercepts up to 9.09% WO3. These findings suggest tungsten could become a valuable third payable product alongside antimony and gold, supported by encouraging metallurgical testwork showing up to 90% tungsten recovery.
Similarly, drilling at the Freehold and Clarks Gully prospects has reinforced the scale and continuity of mineralised zones, with intercepts such as 8.3m at 7.50g/t AuEq and 6.4m at 12.92g/t AuEq, respectively. Tungsten mineralisation is consistently associated with gold and antimony lodes, adding a new dimension to the project’s economic potential. The Freehold system, for example, has demonstrated mineralised strike lengths exceeding 350m and remains open at depth, indicating significant upside for resource expansion.
These drilling successes build on previous announcements, including the recent strong drilling results at Freehold and high-grade hits at Metz, reinforcing the robustness of Larvotto’s exploration strategy to grow the Hillgrove resource base.
Corporate Strength and Project Pipeline
Larvotto reported a strong cash position of A$82 million at quarter-end, supplemented by an undrawn A$52 million bond facility, fully funding the Hillgrove restart. The company received a US$31.5 million drawdown from its Nordic Bond financing, with independent engineering verification confirming the project’s build progress.
Beyond Hillgrove, Larvotto is progressing due diligence at the Mt Isa Copper Project in Queensland, particularly at the Blockade Mine, where assay results from recent drilling are pending. Positive outcomes here could add a significant copper asset to Larvotto’s portfolio, complementing its diversified mineral interests. Meanwhile, at the Eyre Project in Western Australia, metallurgical testing on rare earth element samples is underway to assess processing pathways and recovery potential.
Strategic government engagement remains a priority, with David Fawcett’s advisory role focusing on positioning Hillgrove’s antimony production within national security supply chains and exploring potential in-house refining to enhance value. This aligns closely with the government’s critical minerals legislation and the broader geopolitical emphasis on securing domestic supply of strategic minerals.
Community and Environmental Initiatives
Larvotto is actively engaging with local communities around Hillgrove, supporting regional employment and social programs. Initiatives include a grazing program with educational partnerships at Echidna Gully Village and ongoing collaborations with O’Connor Catholic College. The company also hosts regular community sessions and participates in local events, fostering strong stakeholder relationships.
Environmental stewardship features prominently, with plans to retreat historic tailings containing significant gold, antimony, and tungsten to mitigate environmental risks and recover additional metals. The company is exploring land-use opportunities such as native plant nurseries, bush tucker cultivation with Traditional Owners, and aquaculture projects, aiming to deliver lasting social and environmental benefits.
Bottom Line?
Larvotto’s Hillgrove Project is advancing rapidly toward mid-year production, underpinned by strong drilling and strategic government backing, but the real test will be translating tungsten potential and exploration success into sustained operational performance.
Questions in the middle?
- How will tungsten recovery impact Hillgrove’s economics and product mix?
- What will the pending Blockade Mine assay results reveal about Mt Isa’s copper potential?
- Can Larvotto leverage its government ties to secure long-term contracts under the Critical Minerals Strategic Reserve?