Antimony Resources Limited (ASX: ANT), a critical minerals exploration and development company focused on securing North American antimony supply, has announced the commencement of its inaugural antimony concentrate production campaign at its Tecomatlán Processing Plant in Mexico. This 200-tonne Proof-of-Concept campaign signifies a pivotal moment, marking the company’s transition from an explorer to a near-term antimony concentrate producer. Following successful wet and dry commissioning, the plant is now processing material sourced from the Chinantla mine.
The primary objective of this initial campaign is to produce the first bulk antimony concentrate from the Tecomatlán facility, with independent assays to confirm its grade, recovery, and quality. Antimony Resources has strategically secured three regional feedstock sources: a binding five-year supply agreement with Chinantla, providing material for the current campaign, and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with Vinatas and Coyul antimony operations. The Tecomatlán plant, equipped with flexible flotation and gravity circuits, is designed to effectively treat diverse feedstocks, reducing reliance on any single supplier.
Laboratory test work on material from these sources has yielded encouraging results. Chinantla achieved up to 81.1% antimony recovery and 62.9% concentrate, Vinatas up to 78.6% recovery and a 68.3% concentrate, and Coyul up to 73.3% recovery and a 45.1% primary concentrate. Executive Chairman Shane Menere noted this step validates the company’s metallurgy at plant scale. Given antimony’s designation as a critical mineral, Antimony Resources aims to position itself as an emerging North American supplier amidst global supply dynamics. The company anticipates releasing assay results and progressing towards binding supply and offtaker agreements.
