A chunk of stibnite, which contains more than 70% antimony, from Felix Gold’s Treasure Creek project near Fairbanks. (Photo by Max Graham/Northern Journal)
Alaska’s next hard-rock mine might not produce silver or copper, but antimony: a little-known mineral that’s an essential ingredient in modern weapons and energy infrastructure.
Despite its widespread use in missiles, flame retardants, and solar panels, no mines in the U.S. currently produce antimony.
China is the world’s primary producer and the United States’ biggest supplier, as it is for many other key industrial minerals. But it set new limits on antimony exports in September , citing national security concerns.
Now, eyeing funds available from the U.S. Department of Defense, two publicly traded Australian companies hope to open what they describe as small antimony mines in Alaska within the next few years.
“Antimony is a special beast. It’s national security. It’s a strategic metal for the United States,” said Joseph Webb, executive director of one of those companies, Felix Gold .