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| Perpetua Resources |
Perpetua Resources is spearheading efforts to establish a domestic antimony supply chain in the United States. With China's recent suspension of antimony exports, the Idaho-based company is leveraging its Stibnite Gold Project to reduce reliance on foreign sources and bolster the nation’s critical mineral security.
Advancing Domestic Antimony Production
Perpetua Resources is advancing partnerships with Sunshine Silver Mining and Refining and conducting metallurgical testing with US Antimony (USAC) to refine antimony processing techniques. These initiatives are crucial as the US seeks alternatives to address vulnerabilities in its supply chain, highlighted by China's export ban, which began on December 3, 2024.
The Stibnite Gold Project, the only domestic reserve of antimony in the US, holds an estimated 148 million pounds (67,130 tonnes) of the mineral. The project is expected to supply approximately 35% of the country’s antimony demand during its initial six years of operation.
To achieve this goal, Perpetua has initiated key partnerships:
Sunshine Silver Mining and Refining: Conducting feasibility testing at the Sunshine Mine Complex in Idaho, where third-party engineers are optimizing antimony processing flowsheets.
US Antimony (USAC): Performing metallurgical tests on Stibnite concentrates to ensure commercially viable antimony products can be produced domestically.
These collaborations aim to ensure the Stibnite Gold Project can deliver a reliable, fully domestic antimony supply chain.
Geopolitical and Economic Significance
China's suspension of antimony exports has intensified the need for local production. Between January 2022 and October 2024, the US imported 22% of its antimony metal and 69% of its antimony trioxide from China. This disruption underscores the strategic importance of Perpetua’s efforts, as securing critical materials has become a top priority amid rising geopolitical tensions.
Perpetua Resources’ initiatives to establish a domestic antimony supply chain are vital to reducing the US's dependence on foreign sources. With its partnerships and the Stibnite Gold Project’s capabilities, the company is positioned to play a pivotal role in meeting the growing demand for supply chain security and critical materials.
