US Antimony Montana mining advances with new claims and smelter expansion

US Antimony Montana Mining

US Antimony Montana mining accelerates as the company reacquires claims near its Montana smelter. It will start mining immediately on five acres. It will seek federal and state permits to expand exploration. The move aligns mining with adjacent midstream capacity.

Permits, smelters, and production scale

The company operates North America’s only two antimony smelters. It restarted the Madero smelter in April. It plans to expand the Montana smelter six-fold to 300 t per month. These steps strengthen feed-to-smelter integration.

Supply security and market backdrop

US Antimony aims to secure domestic stibnite ore and reduce import risk. China recently blocked a stibnite shipment from Australia. Therefore, the firm is reshoring supply to support its Mexican and US smelters. This strategy improves control across midstream and downstream steps.

Meanwhile, new Montana claims complement operations in Alaska acquired in February. The portfolio now spans mining, smelting, and processing. US Antimony Montana mining thus underpins a broader North American network. That network targets defense, flame retardants, and lead-acid batteries.

The Metalnomist Commentary

If the Montana expansion delivers, domestic supply security will improve across North America. Watch permit timing, mine productivity, and smelter bottlenecks as capacity scales.

US Antimony to Source Ore from Alaska to Strengthen Domestic Supply Chain

US Antimony Corporation (USAC)

US Antimony’s move to tap Alaskan antimony ore marks a significant step toward reducing reliance on foreign sources.

US Antimony Corporation (USAC) is making a strategic move to strengthen its domestic supply chain by sourcing antimony ore from its Alaskan mining claims. Starting in the second quarter, USAC will supply its Montana smelter with ore extracted from its newly acquired properties in Alaska. This marks the first time the Texas-based company has utilized domestically sourced feedstock for its operations, positioning it to reduce its dependency on foreign antimony supplies.

Strategic Move to Alaska

Over the past year, USAC purchased more than 210 mining claims covering approximately 33,000 acres in Alaska. These properties are known to contain significant antimony deposits, though past mining efforts in the region have focused primarily on gold, silver, and other metals. By tapping into these lesser-exploited deposits, USAC plans to support its smelting operations, primarily at its Thompson Falls facility in Montana. The proximity of these mining sites to existing infrastructure, including active mines, will facilitate a faster and more efficient supply chain for the company.

Implications for US Supply Chain and Onshoring Efforts

This move aligns with broader efforts by the US government to reduce reliance on foreign critical minerals, particularly from China. In January, President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at accelerating the permitting process for mining projects in Alaska. The strategic importance of reducing dependency on foreign sources of critical minerals, such as antimony, has been underscored by recent global supply chain disruptions, including China’s decision to restrict its antimony exports.

USAC’s plan includes gradually ramping up its ore extraction, eventually reaching 1,000 metric tonnes per month. This volume would supply both the Thompson Falls smelter and the company’s Madero smelter in Mexico. However, initial shipments from Alaska are expected to be modest, with volumes ranging from 100 to 200 tonnes per month until USAC can expand its Montana smelting capacity. The company is also awaiting a grant from the Department of Defense to support this expansion.

Impact of China’s Antimony Export Restrictions

USAC’s push to source antimony ore domestically is further fueled by China’s decision to impose export bans on antimony and restrict shipments to other global markets. In 2024, China accounted for 63% of all antimony shipments to the US, as per the US Geological Survey. These restrictions have created a more favorable market for USAC and other domestic companies looking to meet the growing demand for antimony. The company anticipates that high prices for antimony will persist due to the global shortage of this critical mineral, compounded by efforts to onshore mineral supplies to the US and other Western nations.

Conclusion

USAC’s decision to source antimony ore from its Alaskan mining claims represents a critical step in securing a reliable and domestically sourced supply of this vital mineral. As the US government continues to prioritize onshoring efforts and reduce its dependence on foreign critical minerals, USAC’s move sets an important precedent for the future of the domestic antimony market. With global supply chain disruptions highlighting the need for self-sufficiency, USAC is positioning itself as a key player in the race to secure critical mineral resources.

US Antimony feedstock sourcing expands to secure smelter supply

US Antimony feedstock

US Antimony feedstock sourcing broadened across the US and overseas to stabilize operations. The company moved to secure inputs for its Montana and Mexico smelters. As a result, it advanced domestic mining claims and lined up new international suppliers. However, it also flagged issues with Australian material quality and logistics.

Domestic expansion: Alaska and Montana

US Antimony feedstock sourcing grew with new Alaska claims, including a 150-acre site near Fairbanks. The firm expects faster permitting since the land is neither federal nor state. Meanwhile, reacquired claims beside its Montana smelter should deliver stibnite within months. Therefore, domestic ore should lower supply risk and trucking distances.

International diversification: Bolivia and Chad

Bolivia will supply up to 150 t/month of antimony flake starting in early 2026. A 10 t pilot shipment arrives at the Montana smelter in August. Additionally, two sources in Chad will feed the Madero smelter, starting with 80 t. Subsequent deliveries should reach 100 t/month to support steady throughput. Canada also lifted feedstock to 857 t year-to-date, up 121 percent.

Australian sourcing faces setbacks following a 50 t shipment held 82 days by Chinese customs. Concurrently, incoming ore showed elevated arsenic and iron, pressuring processing costs. However, broader sourcing and scrap blending can offset penalties and maintain recoveries. Therefore, the portfolio approach underpins more reliable antimony supply for strategic markets.

The Metalnomist Commentary

Diversification is the right hedge as geopolitics and impurities raise feedstock risk. Watch ramp discipline in Bolivia and Chad and impurity management in Montana. If logistics hold, US Antimony can claw back margin despite uneven market conditions.

US Antimony Revenue Doubles as Critical Mineral Demand Surges

US Antimony

US Antimony Corporation achieved remarkable financial performance in the first quarter, with revenue more than doubling to $7 million compared to the same period last year. The mining and processing company's impressive growth reflects surging antimony prices and significant operational improvements across its North American facilities.

Strong Financial Performance Driven by Strategic Market Position

Antimony sales dominated the company's revenue stream, generating $5.9 million and accounting for approximately 84% of total quarterly revenue. This substantial increase transformed the company's financial outlook dramatically. Net income reached $546,524, a striking turnaround from the $322,768 loss recorded in the first quarter of 2023.

The company's success stems from its unique market position as the operator of North America's only two antimony smelters. This exclusive status provides US Antimony with significant competitive advantages in a market where antimony serves critical applications including flame retardants, military equipment, and lead-antimony alloys for batteries and cables.

Expansion Plans Signal Continued Growth Trajectory

US Antimony expects second quarter revenue to climb further following the April restart of its Madero smelter in Mexico. Meanwhile, the company announced ambitious expansion plans for its Montana facility, targeting a six-fold capacity increase to 300 tons per month. These operational enhancements position the company to capitalize on growing demand for this critical mineral.

Therefore, the company's strategic acquisitions continue to strengthen its supply chain. US Antimony plans to begin sourcing antimony ore from Alaska in the second quarter, following its $5.25 million acquisition of additional antimony mining claims in Alaska during January. This vertical integration strategy reduces supply chain risks while expanding production capabilities.

However, the company's smaller zeolite division remains a minor revenue contributor compared to its core antimony operations. As a result, US Antimony's growth strategy focuses primarily on expanding antimony production capacity and securing additional ore sources.

The Metalnomist Commentary

US Antimony's exceptional Q1 performance underscores the critical importance of domestic mineral processing capabilities amid global supply chain uncertainties. The company's monopolistic position in North American antimony smelting, combined with strategic capacity expansions, positions it to capitalize on sustained demand for this essential defense and industrial mineral.

Perpetua Resources Advances Plans for US Antimony Supply Chain Amid Rising Geopolitical Tensions

Perpetua Resources

Perpetua Resources is forging partnerships and conducting feasibility testing to establish a domestic antimony supply chain in the US, as China's export suspension amplifies the need for local sourcing.

Developing a US-Based Antimony Supply Chain

Idaho-based Perpetua Resources is taking significant steps to establish a domestic antimony supply chain by partnering with Sunshine Silver Mining and Refining and conducting metallurgical testing with US Antimony (USAC). The move comes at a critical time as the US grapples with the implications of China’s suspension of antimony exports, which began on December 3, 2024.

Antimony, a critical mineral essential for flame retardants, batteries, and defense applications, has seen rising demand amidst global supply chain vulnerabilities. Perpetua’s efforts are centered on its Stibnite Gold Project in Idaho, the only domestic reserve of antimony in the US, containing an estimated 148 million pounds (67,130 tonnes). During its first six years of operation, the project is expected to meet approximately 35% of US antimony demand.

Testing Partnerships for Processing Feasibility

To advance its vision, Perpetua has initiated:

• Feasibility testing with Sunshine Silver Mining and Refining at the Sunshine Mine Complex, also located in Idaho. Third-party engineers are developing a flowsheet to optimize the processing and refining of antimony from various ore types.

• Metallurgical testing with Montana-based USAC, where Perpetua is providing antimony concentrate samples from Stibnite to determine the specifications needed for commercially viable antimony products.

These partnerships are key to ensuring that the Stibnite Gold Project can support a fully domestic supply chain for antimony, reducing reliance on foreign imports.

Geopolitical Drivers and Market Implications

The urgency for a domestic supply chain has intensified following China’s decision to halt antimony exports to the US. Between January 2022 and October 2024, the US imported:

• 15,665 tonnes of antimony metal from China, representing 22% of total imports.

• 55,506 tonnes of antimony trioxide, accounting for 69% of total imports.

China's export suspension highlights the strategic importance of Perpetua’s efforts, as the US seeks to secure access to critical materials amid escalating geopolitical tensions.

Conclusion

Perpetua Resources’ initiatives, supported by partnerships with Sunshine Silver and USAC, position the company as a cornerstone of America’s critical mineral strategy. With the Stibnite Gold Project poised to reduce the nation’s dependency on foreign antimony, Perpetua is aligning itself with the growing demand for supply chain security in the face of global uncertainties.