What's Happening?
Locksley Resources is accelerating its redevelopment plans for the Desert Antimony Mine within the Mojave Project in California. The company is undertaking various workstreams to facilitate extraction
operations, including development planning and engaging mining engineering consultants. Locksley is also seeking expressions of interest from third-party contractors for mineral extraction and has submitted an amended plan of operations to the Bureau of Land Management. Concurrently, Locksley is in discussions with the Export-Import Bank and other US funding agencies to secure a $191 million development finance package. The company is generating product samples from ongoing metallurgical testwork to meet specifications for industrial and defense sector offtakers. Drilling at the Desert Antimony Mine aims to inform a maiden JORC mineral resource estimate, with multiple technical areas being enhanced.
Why It's Important?
The advancement of the Desert Antimony Mine is significant for the US as antimony is a critical mineral essential for defense and industrial applications. Locksley's progress supports US objectives to rebuild domestic sources of defense-essential materials, aligning with federal supply chain resilience frameworks. The company's mine-to-market strategy positions it as a key player in the US antimony supply chain, potentially reducing reliance on foreign sources. This development could bolster the US economy by securing a stable supply of antimony, which is crucial for various industries, including electronics and military applications.
What's Next?
Locksley Resources plans to continue enhancing its understanding of the Desert Antimony Mine and work in parallel with the US government on permitting, finance, and delivering antimony products to the US market. The company is advancing planning for a targeted work plan to fast-track extraction for its phase one pilot processing facility, expected in 2026. With enhanced geological and metallurgical knowledge, Locksley is beginning early-stage small-scale production planning, aiming to establish a conceptual development plan for a pilot plant.
Beyond the Headlines
Locksley's collaboration with Rice University to develop advanced antimony extraction technology using DeepSolvTM highlights the innovative approach to mineral extraction. The company's strategy to build a fully integrated mine-to-market platform aligns with American industrial, defense, and energy sectors, potentially setting a precedent for future mineral development projects in the US.
