US antimony trisulfide supply gets pilot-plant boost from Perpetua ore

Perpetua Ore Mining

The US antimony trisulfide supply chain is moving toward pilot-scale production. Perpetua Resources will supply ore samples from its Stibnite Gold Project for testing. Therefore, the US antimony trisulfide supply story now shifts from geology to processing proof.

Modular pilot plant targets critical mineral refining

The pilot plant effort centers on processing flexibility and faster learning cycles. Idaho National Laboratory will commission a modular pilot processing plant in Idaho. Meanwhile, the plant will refine several critical minerals, including antimony.

Perpetua will ship representative ore samples for pilot-scale runs. The goal is to produce antimony trisulfide concentrate suitable for defense-related demand. As a result, stakeholders can validate flowsheets, recoveries, and concentrate quality earlier.

Defense funding adds momentum for domestic supply resilience

The project aligns with a broader push for secure domestic inputs in United States supply chains. US Department of Defense has already supported Perpetua’s testing pathway. In May, US Army provided $6.9mn for antimony ore feasibility testing.

Perpetua chief executive Jon Cherry framed the pilot as a scaling milestone for industry. However, pilot success must translate into reliable commercial production routes. Therefore, the US antimony trisulfide supply outlook now depends on execution and permitting pace.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Pilot plants often decide which critical mineral projects earn serious capital. However, antimony markets stay volatile and policy-driven. Therefore, downstream offtake clarity will matter as much as metallurgy.