High-Purity Output from Idaho Project
Resolution Minerals Ltd (ASX: RML; OTCQB: RLMLF) has successfully produced high-purity antimony trioxide from its Antimony Ridge project in Idaho. This marks a key milestone in advancing domestic U.S. supply of the critical mineral and strengthening its downstream processing strategy.
The Company reported that metallurgical test work has generated an intermediate antimony trioxide (SbO) product with a purity of 99.38 wt%, produced from large samples of stibnite sourced from historical open pits at Antimony Ridge using conventional pyrometallurgical processing methods.
According to Resolution Minerals, these results represent an important step in validating potential processing pathways for the project. Further refining test work is already underway, and final product results are expected in the coming weeks.
Metallurgical programmes are progressing across multiple streams, including conventional pyrometallurgy, hydrometallurgy, and concentrate development. Initial pyrometallurgical test work has been conducted by Kingston Process Metallurgy (KPM) in Canada. Meanwhile, hydrometallurgical studies are ongoing at ANSTO, and concentrate optimisation work is being undertaken at IMO laboratories in Australia.
Developing U.S. Processing Capacity
Resolution Minerals is advancing plans to establish a hydrometallurgical processing hub in Idaho. This initiative aims to address the current lack of modern antimony processing capacity in the U.S. and create a vertically integrated supply chain.
High-grade mineralisation continues to support the project’s development potential, with antimony-bearing stibnite veins consistently returning grades above 30% and up to 50% Sb in recent results.
The Antimony Ridge project has historical significance, having supplied material to the U.S. government during World War I, World War II, and the Korean War. This underscores the project’s strategic importance.
Adam Roper, PhD, Resolution’s In-house Senior Metallurgist, stated: “The initial pyrometallurgical results from processing Antimony Ridge samples are very encouraging with few impurities. This is a great start and I’m looking forward to discussing the final results in the coming weeks.”
Resolution’s goal is to develop a processing hub in Idaho for stibnite, and I’m relishing the opportunity to bring this to fruition, from mine to product. The Johnson Creek Mill site, located at the base of Antimony Ridge, is being considered as a fast-track option for potential development of a local processing site. It has the necessary infrastructure on site, with power and water, and is on 10 acres of private land owned 100% by RML.
Ari Zaetz, RML’s Managing Director, stated: “With the recent US Government Permitting Council provided via FAST-41 Coverage to accelerate permits, Resolution is in parallel developing further local processing plans to enable antimony and tungsten supply for US demand. Our unique combination of critical minerals assets makes us well placed to deliver.”
Resolution Minerals plans to commence bulk sampling of high-grade antimony ore and advance a major drilling program. These actions are designed to support resource definition and progress toward a maiden Mineral Resource Estimate.
